⚓ Nimitz-Class Supercarriers

Asbestos Exposure: Engine-Room & Gasket Exposure

Launched in the 1970s as successors to the Enterprise, Nimitz-class supercarriers (CVN-68 through CVN-77) incorporated massive propulsion systems and thousands of asbestos components in their early decades of operation. From steam lines and turbines to gaskets, brake pads, and insulation, asbestos was standard in nearly every engineering compartment, ventilation shaft, and boiler enclosure. Sailors, shipyard workers, and contractors were frequently exposed while maintaining these powerful vessels.

This guide outlines where asbestos was used aboard Nimitz-class carriers, which personnel were most at risk, and how veterans can file VA, trust-fund, and civil claims for related illnesses.

📞 Need help proving exposure aboard a Nimitz-class carrier? Call 800.291.0963 for free case assistance today.

🧭 Step 1: Overview of Nimitz-Class Asbestos Use

Early ships in the Nimitz class were designed before asbestos bans took effect, making heat resistance a top priority.

Common asbestos-containing materials aboard:

• ⚙️ Gaskets, packing, and valves in steam propulsion systems.

• 🧱 Insulation around turbines, pipes, and reactors.

• 💨 HVAC ducts and ventilation systems lined with asbestos board.

• 🔩 Brake pads, clutch linings, and heat shields in machinery spaces.

• 🧰 Deck tiles, wall panels, and fireproof coatings in crew compartments.

Goal: Recognize where asbestos exposure occurred in engine rooms and ship infrastructure.

📁 Step 2: Nimitz-Class Vessels Affected

Asbestos materials were installed on nearly every early Nimitz-class ship.

Key ships and service dates:

• ⚓ USS Nimitz (CVN-68): Commissioned 1975 – widespread insulation in propulsion plant.

• ⚙️ USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69): 1977 – asbestos lagging and gasket systems.

• 🧱 USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70): 1982 – early gasket and packing contamination.

• 🔩 USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71): 1986 – limited asbestos but still found in ducts and seals.

• 💨 USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): 1989 – residual asbestos in older design sections.

Goal: Identify which carrier you served or worked aboard for precise exposure tracing.

🏗️ Step 3: Who Was Exposed Aboard Nimitz-Class Carriers

Engine-room and mechanical personnel encountered the highest levels of asbestos dust.

Most-exposed ratings and trades:

• 🧰 Machinist’s Mates (MM) and Boiler Technicians (BT).

• ⚙️ Hull Maintenance Technicians (HT) and welders.

• 💡 Electrician’s Mates (EM) and Damage Controlmen (DC).

• 🧾 Civilian shipyard employees during maintenance or overhauls.

• 🪖 Flight deck and support crew during hangar repairs or refits.

Goal: Correlate your military rating with likely exposure zones aboard.

💼 Step 4: How Exposure Occurred During Operations & Overhauls

Routine mechanical work and periodic refueling overhauls disturbed asbestos insulation.

Common exposure activities:

• 🔧 Removing or replacing valve gaskets and pump seals.

• ⚙️ Grinding and cutting insulation or lagging during maintenance.

• 💨 Cleaning dust from ventilation ducts and bilges.

• 🧱 Working in confined spaces with poor ventilation.

• 🧾 Overhauls at Newport News or Puget Sound Naval Shipyards.

Goal: Document specific duties or refit periods when exposure was likely.

🩺 Step 5: Health Risks for Nimitz-Class Veterans

Long-term exposure to asbestos fibers can cause severe respiratory illness decades later.

Common asbestos-related conditions:

• 💀 Mesothelioma (pleural or peritoneal).

• 🫁 Asbestosis and chronic pulmonary fibrosis.

• 💬 Pleural effusions and plaques.

• 🩺 Lung, throat, or gastrointestinal cancers.

Goal: Obtain medical evaluation and keep all diagnostic and pathology reports.

⚖️ Step 6: VA Disability Benefits for Nimitz-Class Sailors

Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses qualify for 100% VA disability compensation.

Available VA programs:

• 💰 Tax-free monthly disability benefits.

• 🏥 Access to VA mesothelioma specialty centers.

• 🕊️ DIC survivor benefits for family members.

• ⚖️ Eligibility for parallel asbestos trust-fund compensation.

Goal: File both VA and trust-fund claims to ensure full financial recovery.

🧱 Step 7: Civilian and Shipyard Worker Compensation

Civilians who helped construct, maintain, or refuel Nimitz-class ships also qualify for compensation.

Options include:

• ⚖️ Asbestos trust-fund claims (over $32 billion available).

• 💵 Civil lawsuits against manufacturers and suppliers.

• 🧾 Workers’ compensation and SSDI claims.

• 🕊️ Wrongful-death actions for survivors.

Goal: Include both shipyard and shipboard documentation in all claims.

🧠 Step 8: Supporting Evidence for Nimitz-Class Asbestos Claims

Reliable documentation is key to establishing service-connected exposure.

Helpful evidence sources:

• 🧾 Service records showing ship assignment.

• ⚙️ Maintenance logs, shipyard repair reports, or valve-tag data.

• 💬 Witness statements from shipmates or supervisors.

• 🧱 Navy environmental cleanup or abatement records.

Goal: Use Navy and yard reports to confirm exposure timelines and materials.

🌈 Step 9: Ongoing Asbestos Abatement & Modernization

Although new Nimitz-class carriers use non-asbestos materials, older ships required extensive cleanup.

Recent updates:

• 🏗️ Full asbestos abatement during Refueling and Complex Overhauls (RCOH).

• ⚙️ Decontamination of ventilation systems and insulation lagging.

• 🧾 Documentation confirming asbestos removal at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Goal: Use RCOH and abatement records to corroborate historical exposure.

💬 Step 10: Filing Steps for Veterans & Families

Legal coordination ensures maximum compensation from all eligible sources.

Next steps:

• 🧭 Verify ship assignment and service period.

• ⚙️ Gather diagnostic and service documentation.

• 🧾 File VA, trust-fund, and civil claims simultaneously.

• 📞 Call 800.291.0963 for free claim evaluation.

Goal: Protect your rights before deadlines or evidence decay limit recovery.

🤝 Where to Get Help

Our advocates help Nimitz-class veterans and shipyard workers file asbestos claims nationwide.

📞 Call 800.291.0963 today to start your case.

🧭 Summary

The Nimitz-class supercarriers were among the most advanced ships of their era — yet relied on asbestos for essential heat and fire protection. Thousands of sailors and shipyard personnel were unknowingly exposed during maintenance, overhaul, and refueling operations. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or related illnesses can obtain VA, trust-fund, and civil compensation by filing coordinated claims today.

You served with strength — now protect your rights.
800.291.0963