The SS Park Victory, a Victory-class cargo ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program was launched on April 21, 1945, by the Permanente Metals, Richmond, California.
US Navy veterans who served during that period faced a dangerous threat from the asbestos onboard their ships which required the use of the toxic mineral for thermal insulation and countless other purposes. This ship contained extensive amounts of asbestos in its equipment, including pipes, gaskets, and insulation, to prevent the risk of fire. The boiler rooms and engineering spaces of this ship exposed people aboard to asbestos as these areas were generally poorly ventilated. Health-threatening materials were also heavily used throughout the ship's interior and even in some paint. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 62 merchant marine and 28 US naval armed guards and had its main missions as a livestock carrier to war-torn nations. On December 25, 1947, the ship sank after it ran aground on rocks accidentally.
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