Merchant Marines Ranks & Asbestos Exposure:

Full Rank-by-Rank Guide

From the 1930s through the 1990s, Merchant Marine ships were loaded with asbestos in insulation, boiler rooms, engine rooms, pumps, valves, gaskets, fireproofing materials, electrical systems, and living quarters. As a result, Merchant Mariners—engineers, deck crew, firemen, oilers, cooks, radio operators, and officers—sustained some of the highest asbestos exposure of any maritime profession.

Merchant ships frequently used asbestos for heat resistance, fireproofing, and machinery protection, placing nearly every job aboard at risk.

Where Merchant Mariners Encountered Asbestos on Ships

Common Asbestos-Containing Areas

• Engine rooms & boiler rooms

• Pump rooms & generator rooms

• Turbines, condensers, valves, & piping

• Electrical wiring, panels, & switchboards

• Fireproof doors, bulkheads, and insulation

• Gaskets, rope packing, and pipe covering

• Crew quarters, mess halls, & galley floors

• Cargo holds and refrigeration units

Ships built before 1980 contained asbestos in nearly every compartment.

Enlisted & Unlicensed Crew

These are the non-officer ranks that made up the majority of the crew.

Ordinary Seaman (OS)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Deck maintenance, painting, cargo handling

Asbestos Exposure

• Paint scraping on ACM surfaces

• Dust from insulation in passageways

• Cargo hold flooring and pipe wrap

Able Seaman (AB)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Watchstanding, line handling, ship maintenance

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM rope & line storage areas

• Fireproofing materials in bulkheads

• Deck machinery with asbestos gaskets

Boatswain’s Mate (BM)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Supervises deck crew, oversees rigging & maintenance

Asbestos Exposure

• Demolition of asbestos lagging during repairs

• ACM paint, adhesives, & deck coatings

• Winch and mooring machinery insulation

Steward / Steward’s Assistant

Typical Duties

🛠️ Galley & mess operations, cleaning, food service

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM galley floor tiles

• Asbestos oven insulation & burner linings

• Dining area ceiling tiles

Cook / Chief Cook

Typical Duties

🛠️ Prepares meals, supervises galley operations

Asbestos Exposure

• Stove & oven insulation

• ACM galley ventilation ducts

• Hot water system insulation

Radio Operator

Typical Duties

🛠️ Communications, ship messaging systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Electrical panels with ACM

• Insulated communications rooms

• Asbestos wiring insulation

Engineering Department (High-Risk Asbestos Area)

Engineers experienced the greatest exposure aboard ships.

Wiper

Typical Duties

🛠️ Basic cleaning in engine & fire rooms

Asbestos Exposure

• Dust from machinery insulation

• ACM in pumps, valves, & boiler areas

• Airborne fibers from lagging removal

Oiler

Typical Duties

🛠️ Lubricates engines & mechanical systems

Asbestos Exposure

• Pipe insulation

• Turbine & pump gaskets

• Boiler room debris

Fireman / Fireman–Water Tender (FWT)

Typical Duties

🛠️ Operates boilers, maintains steam pressure

Asbestos Exposure

• Boiler insulation

• Firebrick & refractory ACM

• Pipe wrapping around steam systems

Junior Engineer / Third Assistant Engineer

Typical Duties

🛠️ Monitors engines, repairs pumps & valves

Asbestos Exposure

• Insulated turbine casings

• Pump and valve packing

• ACM gasket replacements

Second Assistant Engineer

Typical Duties

🛠️ Oversees fuel systems & auxiliary machinery

Asbestos Exposure

• Fuel heater insulation

• ACM thermal pipe wrap

• Switchboards and electrical systems

First Assistant Engineer

Typical Duties

🛠️ Supervises engine room operations

Asbestos Exposure

• Boiler access areas

• Steam lines & condensers

• Asbestos-protected machinery

Chief Engineer

Typical Duties

🛠️ Head of all engineering operations aboard ship

Asbestos Exposure

• Entire propulsion system

• Fireproof bulkheads

• Decades of accumulated ACM exposure

Deck Officer Ranks

Third Mate

Typical Duties

🛠️ Safety officer, navigation watch

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM fire doors & emergency gear

• Bridge electrical panels

• Passageway insulation

Second Mate

Typical Duties

🛠️ Navigation officer

Asbestos Exposure

• Chart room electrical wiring

• ACM ceiling and wall insulation

• Radio room equipment

First Mate / Chief Mate

Typical Duties

🛠️ Cargo operations, deck department leadership

Asbestos Exposure

• ACM in cargo holds

• Deck machinery insulation

• Fireproofing systems

Captain / Master

Typical Duties

🛠️ Ship commander, overall vessel authority

Asbestos Exposure

• Bridge ACM coatings

• Officer quarters with asbestos tiles

• Long-term shipwide exposure

Highest-Risk Merchant Marine Jobs

Engineering Department

• Firemen

• Oilers

• Wipers

• Pumpmen

• Boiler tenders

• Engineers at all levels

Deck Department

• Able Seamen

• Boatswain’s Mates

• Cargo handlers

Steward Department

• Cooks

• Messmen

• Stewards

Why Merchant Mariners Were at Extreme Risk

Key Reasons

• Ships used tons of asbestos for heat protection

• Confined spaces made fibers more concentrated

• Repairs released heavy ACM dust

• Asbestos insulation deteriorated with ship vibration

• Merchant ships often stayed in service 40–50 years

Compensation Options for Merchant Mariners

VA Benefits

Merchant Mariners who served in WWII and other qualifying periods may receive certain VA benefits.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over $32 billion available to workers exposed to ACM.

Maritime Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Filed against asbestos product manufacturers, not the U.S. government.

Free Case Review for Merchant Marines

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for a free, confidential case review.