🔹 Navy Attack Transport Ship Personnel With Asbestos Exposure

Navy attack transport ships (APA and AKA classes) carried large crews responsible for engineering, cargo operations, troop transport, weapons support, and daily ship maintenance. Because asbestos was used throughout these ships, many different job roles faced repeated exposure—often without any warning of danger.

This article explains which Navy personnel on attack transport ships were most affected and why their duties created high asbestos exposure risk.

⚙️ Engineering Department

🔧 Machinist Mates

• Worked on boilers, turbines, pumps, and valves
• Removed and replaced asbestos insulation
• Replaced asbestos gaskets and packing
• Worked in the most contaminated ship spaces

Machinist mates had some of the heaviest exposure.

🔥 Boiler Technicians

• Maintained and inspected boilers
• Stripped asbestos insulation during inspections
• Worked around asbestos blankets and cement
• Inhaled dust during relining and repairs

⚡ Electricians

• Worked near asbestos-lined wiring systems
• Drilled into asbestos boards behind panels
• Replaced fireproofed switchgear components
• Exposed during upgrades and rewiring

🚚 Cargo and Deck Crews

🏗️ Cargo Handlers

• Operated cranes, hoists, and winches
• Serviced equipment with asbestos brake linings
• Worked near fireproofed cargo holds
• Inhaled dust from deck and bulkhead repairs

⚓ Deck Crew

• Maintained fireproof decks and bulkheads
• Cut and sanded asbestos-coated surfaces
• Worked near insulated piping on deck levels
• Exposed during repainting and structural repairs

🛠️ Maintenance and Repair Crews

🔩 Pipefitters

• Cut and removed asbestos pipe insulation
• Replaced asbestos gaskets and packing
• Serviced steam and water lines
• Created heavy dust during repairs

🔧 Hull Technicians

• Cut through asbestos fireproofing
• Removed damaged bulkheads and decks
• Worked near asbestos boards and coatings
• Inhaled fibers during structural repairs

🧰 General Maintenance Workers

• Repaired walls, floors, and ceilings
• Removed asbestos tiles and panels
• Sanded fireproof coatings
• Exposed throughout the ship

🛏️ Berthing and Support Staff

🧹 Stewards and Supply Personnel

• Worked in asbestos-lined spaces
• Exposed through ventilation systems
• Inhaled fibers from aging materials
• Had daily low-level exposure

📦 Storekeepers

• Worked in insulated storage compartments
• Exposed during compartment repairs
• Inhaled fibers from fireproofed walls

🏗️ Shipyard Workers and Overhaul Crews

🛠️ Repair Yard Crews

• Stripped large amounts of asbestos
• Installed new asbestos materials
• Worked in heavy dust conditions
• Often had the highest exposure of all

⚓ Sailors Assigned to Yard Duty

• Assisted during overhauls
• Worked in open asbestos environments
• Inhaled thick dust for weeks or months

🧠 Why So Many Roles Were Exposed

• Asbestos used throughout the ship
• Enclosed steel spaces trapped dust
• Vibration and heat caused materials to crumble
• Ventilation spread fibers everywhere
• Long deployments increased exposure time

Even sailors not working directly with asbestos inhaled fibers.

❓ Personnel Exposure – FAQs

Were only engineers exposed?
No. Deck crews, cargo handlers, electricians, and support staff were also exposed.

Did off-duty sailors face risk?
Yes. Fibers spread through air systems into sleeping and eating areas.

Did shipyard work increase exposure?
Yes. Overhauls caused massive asbestos dust.

Were sailors warned?
Most were never told asbestos was dangerous.

⚖️ How an Asbestos Lawyer Can Get You Compensation

An asbestos lawyer proves exposure by matching your job role to ship conditions.

An asbestos lawyer will:

• Review your ship assignments and duties
• Identify asbestos materials used on APA/AKA ships
• Connect your job tasks to exposure zones
• Work with doctors to confirm diagnosis
• File lawsuits and trust fund claims

📞 Get Help Now

If you served aboard a Navy attack transport ship and later developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation.

You may qualify for:

• Lawsuit settlements or verdicts
• Asbestos trust fund payments
• VA disability and survivor benefits

There is no upfront cost.

📞 Call now for a free, confidential case consultation:
800.291.0963