The SS New Bern Victory was built by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in 1945 under the Emergency Shipbuilding program to serve in World War II. It was a cargo Victory ship, responsible for transporting goods to the troops fighting in the war. The ship was operated by the American Export Line and, subsequently, by the Isthmian Steamship Company. Victory ships were designed to replace the old Liberty ships, as they were longer, taller, faster, and wider. The SS New Bern Victory was sunk in 1972 in heavy weather in Karachi.
Since it was laid down when asbestos was a very popular building material, the SS New Bern Victory had numerous hazardous products aboard, which inevitably led to exposure among the military personnel present on it. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of terrible diseases over the years, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Because veterans who served on this ship have a high risk of developing a disease as a consequence of asbestos exposure, it is highly recommended that they undergo periodical medical examinations to timely find out about a potential disease.
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