Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS HELENA CA 75 CRUISER

After the build of CL-113 was cancelled, the name USS Helena was transferred to the CA-75 hull. This was the third ship of the United States Navy to bare the name of the city of Helena, Montana. The construction on the USS Helena was completed on the 28th of April 1945 under sponsorship from Mrs. John T. Haytin, wife of the mayor of Helena. After completion the ship was sent to active service on the 5th of September 1945, too late to serve in the War. During her active service USS Helena spent most of her time in European waters for testing and exercises. After the testing period was completed, she spent the remaining period in Asian waters. She was commissioned with Captain Arthur Howard McCollum in command and decommissioned on the 29th of June 1963. She was later sold for scrap.

As mentioned in some historic documents and archives, these were USS Helena’s main attributes:

  • Baltimore class heavy cruiser
  • 13600 tons in dry weight
  • 674 feet in complete length
  • Maximum speed as designed was 33 knots (actual speed may vary)
  • 1142 men and officers served on board

Asbestos on the USS Helena has serious consequences

Asbestos, as the world found out around the sixties, is a very dangerous material to be around. Inhaling or swallowing a certain amount of asbestos fibers can develop in time into a very severe condition, known as mesothelioma cancer, or a series of other severe diseases. That was the risk faced by sailors on board the USS Helena because of the high asbestos content on board. Any damage done to those materials allows asbestos fibers to become airborne and very easy to swallow or inhale. This created a very dangerous living and working environment for anyone on board the ship.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Helena? Contact an attorney!

You can make a wise decision even when facing a deadly disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Right after receiving the diagnose we recommend that you contact a specialized asbestos or mesothelioma attorney. Ask this attorney to evaluate your case, and after this he will be able to tell you if you have any chance of receiving compensation funds for your wrongful exposure. If you decide that you should act legally, there are a few steps to follow before filing the claim which the lawyer should be fully aware of.

Please feel free to contact an asbestos specialist whenever you need assistance because it is completely free.