Merchant Marine Steward / Steward’s Assistant Asbestos Exposure

⚠️ Asbestos Risks for Merchant Marine Stewards & Steward’s Assistants

Stewards and Steward’s Assistants served a critical role aboard U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, ensuring food preparation, cooking, meal service, and daily cleaning for the ship’s crew. Although these positions were not engineering or deck roles, Merchant Marine galley and mess areas were built with large amounts of asbestos, especially between the 1940s and the late 1990s.

The highest asbestos concentrations on commercial ships were typically found in:

galley deck tile and mastic adhesive
oven and stove insulation
boiler-fed steam lines running under mess decks
ACM wallboard and ceiling tiles
refrigeration insulation containing asbestos fibers
ventilation ducts lined with asbestos boards

Because Stewards spend most of their day standing, cooking, moving, cleaning, sweeping, and serving in these areas, exposure was constant. Steam, heat, vibration, and foot traffic caused asbestos flooring and oven insulation to degrade faster than materials in other parts of the ship.

Decades later, many Merchant Marine service members who worked in steward departments developed mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, pleural thickening, and asbestosis, often without realizing their exposure came from “non-industrial” ship duties.

🛠️ Typical Duties of a Merchant Marine Steward / Steward’s Assistant

🍽️ Galley & Mess Deck Operations

Stewards handle all aspects of shipboard food production, including:

preparing meals for officers and crew
operating grills, ovens, steam tables, fryers, and industrial ranges
cleaning countertops and galley equipment
maintaining sanitation standards

Nearly all galley equipment constructed before the 1980s used:

asbestos insulation around burners
high-heat asbestos panels behind stoves
fireproof ACM sheeting behind ovens

As ovens heated repeatedly, insulation deteriorated and released fibers into the air.

🥘 Food Preparation & Service

Daily duties include:

chopping, cooking, and storing food
operating large steam kettles connected to boiler systems
transporting food to officer and crew mess spaces
managing serving lines and buffets

Steam kettles and older hot-water heaters often had asbestos-insulated pipes, and heat radiating through the deck’s ACM adhesive contributed to fiber release.

🧹 Cleaning & Housekeeping of Crew Spaces

Stewards maintain:

mess deck floors
pantries
officer dining areas
crew dining spaces
galley storage rooms
dishwashing and scullery areas

Cleaning tasks involved:

sweeping
scrubbing
mopping
buffing floors

Galley and mess deck floors typically contained asbestos vinyl tile, which released dust when cracked, worn, or damaged. Buffing machines could easily create large quantities of airborne ACM particles.

🔥 Operation of High-Heat Equipment

Stewards frequently operated:

ovens with asbestos door seals
stovetops lined with ACM insulation
deep fryers surrounded by fire-resistant asbestos panels
warming cabinets insulated with asbestos board

Constant heat cycles caused these materials to break down into fine fibers, which were then inhaled by stewards throughout the day.

🚢 Assistance During Ship Operations

Although primarily galley-focused, stewards also:

assisted during emergency drills
provided support during shipboard cleaning evolutions
prepared meals during drydock periods
operated in areas adjacent to engineering passageways

During drydock, asbestos removal in nearby compartments often contaminated food service spaces with drifting dust.

🧱 Asbestos Exposure Risks for Merchant Marine Stewards

1. ACM Galley Floor Tiles

Most Merchant Marine ship galleys used:

asbestos vinyl composition tile (VCT)
ACM mastic adhesive
asbestos-backed sheet flooring

Daily foot traffic, rolling carts, and moisture caused these materials to deteriorate. Cracks or chipped corners released asbestos directly into the breathing zone.

2. Asbestos Oven Insulation & Burner Linings

Ovens, griddles, and stoves used:

heat-resistant asbestos insulation
asbestos gasket door seals
ACM-lined burner housings

Heating cycles weakened these materials, producing airborne asbestos whenever equipment was opened, slammed, cleaned, or maintained.

3. ACM Ceiling Tiles in Dining Areas

Dining compartments often had:

textured asbestos ceiling tiles
ACM adhesive adhesive
fireproof overhead panels

Vessel vibration caused dust to fall from above mess tables.

4. Refrigeration & Cold-Storage ACM

Older ships used:

asbestos insulation around refrigerant pipes
ACM-lined cold rooms
insulated compressor housings

Stewards entering cold storage areas frequently inhaled disturbed fibers.

5. Steam Lines Running Beneath Galley Decks

Galley floors were typically built over:

steam pipes
hot-water distribution lines
boiler feed lines

All wrapped in asbestos thermal insulation. Cracked deck tile or worn adhesive allowed fibers to migrate upward into the galley.

6. Ventilation & Airflow Contamination

Galley ventilation systems circulated air through:

asbestos-lined ducts
ACM soundproofing
fan housings insulated with asbestos

Dust from ovens, deck tiles, and piping traveled throughout food preparation spaces.

7. Drydock & Repair Period Exposure

During shipyard work, galley spaces often accumulated:

insulation debris
ACM dust from overhead piping
demolition residue

Stewards preparing meals during repairs experienced increased exposure.

📊 Why Asbestos Claims Are Strong for Stewards & Food Service Personnel

1. Exposure occurred daily for entire trips

Stewards worked 10–14 hours per day inside contaminated spaces.

2. Galley and mess areas had unusually large amounts of ACM

These were “hot zones” for asbestos due to heat and fireproofing requirements.

3. High heat accelerated insulation breakdown

Heat-stressed ACM releases more fibers.

4. Maritime engineering logs clearly document ACM

Merchant Marine vessels recorded all installed materials for insurance and safety compliance.

5. Stewards rarely wore respiratory protection

They were exposed without any protective gear.

📂 How Merchant Marine Stewards Prove Asbestos Exposure

📄 Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) & Sea Service Records

Confirms duty as Steward or Steward’s Assistant and lists ship assignments.

📘 Galley Construction Plans & Ship Blueprints

Identify:

asbestos flooring
ACM wallboard
insulated ducting
oven insulation

🛠 Maintenance & Repair Logs

Drydock documentation shows:

insulation replacement
flooring repairs
galley renovation
boiler work nearby

👥 Witness Statements from Crew

Cooks, ABs, OS crew, and engineering personnel often confirm:

cracked asbestos flooring
insulation falling from behind stoves
contaminated dust in pantries
visible ceiling tile debris

💼 Compensation Examples for Merchant Marine Food Service Personnel

📌 Case 1 — Steward on Break-Bulk Ship

Heavy exposure from galley flooring and oven insulation.
Compensation: $3.2M

📌 Case 2 — Chief Steward on Tanker

Exposure from ACM ceiling panels and steam-line insulation.
Compensation: $3.8M

📌 Case 3 — Steward’s Assistant on Passenger Vessel

Continuous dust exposure in dining areas and cold storage.
Compensation: $3.5M

💙 Benefits Available to Merchant Marine Stewards

💵 Asbestos Trust Funds

Over $30 billion available.

⚖ Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Claims

Filed against asbestos manufacturers—not the Merchant Marine.

❤️ Survivor Claims

Families can also qualify for compensation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🟦 Are stewards considered high-risk for asbestos exposure?

Yes—galleys and mess decks were among the most contaminated shipboard spaces.

🟦 I didn’t work in engine rooms. Can I still file?

Absolutely. Many galley components contained asbestos.

🟦 Does sweeping and cleaning count as exposure?

Yes—cleaning cracked tile or oven insulation dust is a major exposure source.

📞 Get Help Identifying Your Asbestos Exposure as a Merchant Marine Steward / Steward’s Assistant

Stewards aboard pre-1980 merchant ships were routinely exposed to asbestos from galley flooring, ovens, ceiling panels, and steam systems. Specialists can determine which ACM materials were on your vessels and identify available trust funds and legal claims.

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for a free Merchant Marine exposure review.