Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS HONOLULU CL 48 CRUISER

Named for the City of Honolulu, Hawaii, USS Honolulu was the second ship of the United States Navy to bare the name. Sponsored by sponsored by Helen Poindexter (the daughter of Joseph B. Poindexter, the Governor of Hawaii), the USS Honolulu was built by the New York Navy Yard in New Jersey between the 10th of September 1935 and the 26th of August 1937. Commissioned on the 15th of June 1938, USS Honolulu was assigned to the Pacific fleet and with Captain Oscar Smith in command. During her active service the USS Honolulu received eight battle stars, mainly for the duty provided in the Pacific theatre of operations. USS Honolulu was also one of the ships to be part of the fleet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. She only sustained minimum damage to the hull, and was immediately sent to patrol the region. USS Honolulu was scrapped in 1949. These were her general attributes, as found in archived drawings:

  • Brooklyn class light cruiser
  • 9650 tons in weight
  • 608 feet in total length
  • She was one of the fastest ships in the world at the time, with a maximum speed of 34 knots (designers say she could maintain for long periods of time)
  • 868 enlisted, including officers, served on board

Asbestos on the USS Honolulu has serious consequences

USS Honolulu, like all other military ships of the time, contained important amounts of asbestos containing materials. They were used for basic purposes, the ones we know today asbestos is used for, such as insulation and fireproofing. However, the benefits could not be matched with the dangers those materials were posing, in the way that they created a very high potential for diseases. We know today that asbestos fibers are released from these materials when they are damaged. Anyone coming into contact with these fibers develops the risk of contracting an asbestos related disease.

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

You should know that if you are a former crew member of the USS Honolulu you might be entitled to some form of compensation, but only if you have developed an asbestos related disease. Make sure that you visit a specialized doctor first for a complete check-up and a reliable diagnosis. If the diagnosis proves positive towards an asbestos exposure related disease, the lawyer will probably recommend filing a claim towards receiving the rightful funds.

Contact an asbestos specialist for free for detailed information regarding this aspect.