The USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) was a Heywood-class attack transport laid down in 1918 and launched on July 4, the same year. It was commissioned on January 10, 1941, with the hull number AP-13 and it served in the U.S. Navy for 1 year until it was destroyed by the enemy on August 2, 1942. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 350 people on board and had its main missions in Panama, Norfolk, Halifax, Wellington, Tongatapu, Belfast, and New Zealand.
Asbestos-containing products on a ship included but were not limited to, caulking, bedding compound, adhesives, sealant, exhaust riser insulation, and cloth insulation that’s used to cover electrical wires. Due to being brittle, asbestos poses a risk to health if airborne, as inhalation is the main way that asbestos enters the body. When these fibers are inhaled they can cause irreversible scarring of the tissues.