MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS AND ASBESTOS

You probably know that the United States Merchant Marines refers to the civilian owned merchant ships and their owners. These people, like others working on ships, were also exposed to problems coming from asbestos exposure. Merchant marine veterans, as well as those still active were constantly exposed to asbestos, whether on the ship, at sea, or at land, in housing or storage facilities. All of these contained asbestos in high quantities.

World War II Merchant Marines were the most harmed by asbestos, more than today’s merchant marines, because after the banning of asbestos, most of the ship owners revised their vessels and got rid of all the asbestos on board, such as insulation, pipe and boiler covering, as well as asbestos containing cement.

Recommendations for merchant marine veterans towards asbestos issues

As recommended to all other types of veterans affected by asbestos  , in one way or the other, here is the specific list for asbestos affected merchant marine veterans:

  • As always, the first advice is to visit a specialized doctor for tests and a complete set of exams
  • If you are still an active duty marine merchant we recommend having your vessel checked against asbestos, and if discovered, any material should be removed and replaced
  • We also recommend seeking legal advice and counseling from an authorized and experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyer

General facts about asbestos and marine merchants

The first problems for marine merchants that could have been caused by asbestos exposure were reported back in the mid 40’s, at around 1945. WWII was a very problematic period for anyone, and even more for those that received a large enough asbestos dose. Seamen transporting goods for America were affected because being sick meant that business could not go on as normal.

Memorials can be seen all over the coasts of the United States of America in honor of those merchant marine veterans that have fallen while serving their country. They are seen by people as honors not only to officers and captains, but also to the crew members, such as electricians and mechanics.

As a conclusion, we can say that no more than 120 people enlisted in the merchant marine corps have died following a sickness caused by exposure to asbestos.

Contact an asbestos professional as soon as possible and receive important information about any asbestos or mesothelioma related issue. All this is provided to you completely free.