⚓ USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

Asbestos Exposure: Nuclear Carrier Insulation Hazards

Commissioned in 1961 as the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) contained miles of asbestos-insulated piping, turbines, valves, gaskets, packing, and fireproof panels. From the 1960s through the 1980s, routine overhauls, reactor-plant maintenance, and combat-readiness refits disturbed asbestos throughout engineering spaces and below-deck compartments—exposing sailors, shipfitters, and civilian yard workers to toxic fibers that can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis decades later.

This guide explains where and how exposure occurred aboard CVN-65, which jobs were most at risk, and how veterans and families can pursue VA, trust-fund, and civil compensation today.

📞 Need help proving Enterprise exposure? Call 800.291.0963 for free veteran claim assistance.

🧭 Step 1: Where Asbestos Was Used on CVN-65

Nuclear carriers demanded extreme heat resistance and fireproofing—driving heavy asbestos use ship-wide.

Common asbestos locations aboard Enterprise:

• ⚙️ Main machinery rooms: turbines, reducers, pumps, and steam lines.

• 🧱 Reactor-plant support spaces: valve packing, gaskets, and lagging.

• 💨 Ventilation trunks and duct insulation below decks.

• 🔧 Fireproof bulkheads, deck tiles, panel board, and cable wraps.

• 🛠️ Berthing, galley, and medical spaces adjacent to mechanical chases.

Goal: Map your duty stations and work routes to known asbestos systems.

📁 Step 2: Ratings and Trades at Highest Risk

Engineering and repair ratings were routinely inside hot, confined compartments.

Most-exposed personnel:

• 🔧 MM/Machinist’s Mates, BT/Boiler Technicians, MM-N (nuke).

• 🧰 HT/Hull Techs, welders, pipefitters, and insulators.

• ⚡ EM/Electrician’s Mates working near generators and switchboards.

• 🪖 Air Wing and Deck crew when assisting in machinery cleanup or refits.

• 🧾 Civilian shipyard workers during overhauls (NORFOLK/PSNS/ALTs).

Goal: Link your rating/MOS to specific asbestos-containing components.

🏗️ Step 3: How Exposure Happened Aboard Enterprise

Maintenance and overhauls routinely disturbed friable insulation and gasket materials.

Typical exposure scenarios:

• 🧱 Stripping and re-lagging steam pipes in MMRs and reactor-support spaces.

• 🔩 Grinding, scraping, or cutting asbestos gaskets/packing on valves and flanges.

• 💨 Cleaning dust from bilges, ventilation trunks, and cable ways after hotwork.

• 🧰 Shipyard availabilities (Drydock/Refueling Overhauls) with widespread insulation removal.

Goal: Document tasks, dates, and spaces where visible dust or debris was present.

💼 Step 4: Evidence That Strengthens CVN-65 Claims

Enterprise served for over 50 years—leaving a large paper trail.

Key evidence sources:

• 🧾 Service records (ship’s muster rolls, orders) showing Enterprise assignment.

• ⚙️ Work logs, maintenance cards, or tag-outs tied to valves, turbines, or steam systems.

• 💬 Buddy statements from shipmates describing lagging/gasket work.

• 🧱 Shipyard/overhaul records noting asbestos abatement during specific availabilities.

Goal: Pair personal statements with official logs for compelling, verifiable proof.

🩺 Step 5: Health Risks and Latency

Asbestos disease often appears 20–50 years after service.

Common diagnoses:

• 💀 Pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma.

• 🫁 Asbestosis and pulmonary fibrosis.

• 💬 Pleural plaques, thickening, and recurrent effusions.

• 🩺 Lung, laryngeal, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Goal: Obtain pathology confirmation and keep all imaging/oncology records.

⚖️ Step 6: VA Benefits for Enterprise Veterans

Once service connection is established, Enterprise veterans with mesothelioma qualify for 100% VA disability.

Available VA programs:

• 💰 Tax-free monthly compensation.

• 🏥 Access to VA-affiliated mesothelioma specialists and travel support.

• 🕊️ DIC survivor benefits for eligible family members.

• ⚖️ Separate asbestos trust-fund recovery allowed (no VA offset).

Goal: File VA and trust-fund claims together for full compensation.

🧱 Step 7: Trust-Fund & Civil Claims (Manufacturers/Suppliers)

Many components aboard CVN-65 used commercial asbestos products.

Compensation avenues:

• 💵 Claims from 100+ active asbestos trust funds.

• ⚖️ Lawsuits against solvent manufacturers/suppliers.

• 🧾 Social Security Disability (SSDI) when appropriate.

• 🕊️ Wrongful-death actions for survivors.

Goal: Identify product types (gaskets, packing, insulation brands) tied to your work.

🧠 Step 8: Building a Strong Enterprise Exposure Narrative

A clear timeline accelerates approvals and strengthens negotiations.

Action items:

• 🧭 List cruise periods, overhauls, and departments/shops served.

• ⚙️ Match tasks to components (valves, turbines, pumps, pipe runs).

• 💬 Gather shipmate statements confirming dusty maintenance evolutions.

• 🧱 Add shipyard abatement records for the same dates/locations.

Goal: Present a consistent, multi-source exposure story.

🌈 Step 9: Secondary Exposure Considerations

Asbestos dust on coveralls could travel beyond engineering spaces.

Potential secondary paths:

• 🧺 Laundry handling of contaminated workwear.

• 🧰 Berthing areas adjacent to mechanical chases.

• 💨 Vent flows carrying dust from refit zones during availabilities.

Goal: Note household or shipboard secondary exposure if family or crewmates are ill.

💬 Step 10: Filing Steps & Deadlines

Time limits vary by state—do not delay.

Next steps:

1. 🧾 Secure service/assignment records for CVN-65.

2. 🩺 Compile pathology, imaging, and oncology documentation.

3. ⚖️ Open VA disability and parallel trust-fund claims.

4. 📞 Get accredited legal help to manage filings and appeals.

Goal: Preserve eligibility and maximize recovery while evidence is accessible.

🤝 Where to Get Help

Our advocates help Enterprise veterans and shipyard workers gather records and file coordinated VA and trust-fund claims nationwide.

📞 Call 800.291.0963 for a free case review and claims strategy.

🧭 Summary

The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) used extensive asbestos in propulsion and reactor-support systems, ventilation, and fireproof construction. Sailors and shipyard crews who maintained those systems now face elevated risks of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. Coordinated VA, trust-fund, and civil claims can provide swift, meaningful compensation for medical care and family security.

Act now—deadlines apply.
800.291.0963