Merchant mariners are civilians who serve aboard merchant ships engaged in domestic and international commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of navigable waters of the United States. Merchant ships also served as auxiliary vessels to the U.S. Navy during World War II and other conflicts. Because most of the ships these individuals served on were built using asbestos-containing products and relied on asbestos-containing tools and supplies, many merchant mariners have been diagnosed with deadly diseases, including malignant mesothelioma.
What Are Merchant Mariners?
Merchant mariners are individuals who serve aboard commercial vessels as part of the Merchant Marine. They work on a variety of types of vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers, towboats, ferries, dredges, and cruise ships. They can hold a variety of titles, ranging from captains or masters who command vessels and run their operations to mates or deck officers, pilots, ship engineers, and ordinary seaman or deckhands.[1]
Many people mistakenly believe that merchant mariners are part of the U.S. military. This is in large part because during wartime, the Merchant Marine has transported military personnel and equipment, as well as that certification and training to be a merchant marine are managed by the U.S. Coast Guard and that some ships that merchant mariners work on support the U.S. Navy. Still, merchant mariners are not active members of the military and, with the exception of some merchant mariners who served during World War II, they are not entitled to benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration.[1]
The History of the U.S. Merchant Marine
The U.S. Merchant Marine’s history dates to the Revolutionary War, when civilian merchants armed and outfitted their boats to disrupt the British supply line to the Royal British Navy. Those were the first merchant vessels to engage an enemy during a time of war in American history, but they were not the last.[2] The merchant marine was active during the American Civil War and the First World War, but it was during World War II that it truly made an impact.
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of men enlisted to sail on merchant ships across the Pacific and Atlantic in support of the war effort. They supplied Allied operations in all theaters of war, transporting both critical supplies and troops. General Douglas MacArthur credited the merchant marine with having played a vital role in the liberation of the Philippines, and General Dwight Eisenhower said, “When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine.”[3]
Few Americans realize the sacrifice of merchant mariners during World War II. Of 243,000 who served during the war, 9,521 died, representing a higher proportion of those killed than any other military branch. The Japanese captured 609 mariners as prisoners of war, and more than 700 ships were sunk due to enemy attacks, some occurring before the attack on Pearl Harbor. This made merchant mariners some of the first American casualties of the conflict. In response to attacks on civilian merchant mariners, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the War Shipping Administration as a “temporary war agency responsible for acquiring control over and operating all American merchant vessels other than those assigned to the Army and Navy.”[3]
The importance of the merchant fleet to national interests resulted in the passage of the Merchant Marine Act in 1936, which established a ship-building program to replace the old, outdated fleet from World War I and a comprehensive training program for merchant seamen. This facilitated the creation of the Merchant Marine Cadet Corps and the Merchant Marine Academy.[3]
The Merchant Marine continued to serve the country even after the war had ended, transporting men and supplies needed for the occupation of Japan and helping bring prisoners of war home. Despite their efforts, the Department of Defense refused to allow them veteran status until 1988, when those who served in specific defense capabilities between 1941 and 1945 were recognized as veterans and eligible for the benefits of the GI Bill.[3]
How Were Merchant Marines Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos has been a valued material for centuries, but in the United States, this was especially true in the years between the 1930s and 1980s, when it was widely used in applications including construction and manufacturing. Noted for its strength, flexibility, fireproofing capability, and durability, it was also extremely useful in shipbuilding for both civilian and military vessels. Asbestos insulated pipes, ducts, and walls and was included in boiler rooms, engine rooms, and other areas of the vessels.
Beyond the ships’ construction, asbestos was also a component of many of the supplies, tools, and equipment carried onboard the ships, and in the case of Merchant Marine vessels, it may also have been included in the cargo that the ships were transporting. Asbestos was commonly used in the following shipboard materials and equipment:
- Valves
- Gaskets
- Air compressors
- Fuel oil burners
- Insulation
- Joint compound
- Lagging
- Steam pipes
- Turbines
- Bilge systems
- Heating and cooling systems
- Flooring
- Wall panels
- Cables
- Packing materials
- Ropes
- Adhesives
- Deck materials
- Bedding
- Fireproofing supplies and materials
Who On Board Merchant Marine Vessels Were at The Greatest Risk?
Because the use of asbestos to construct and equip merchant marine vessels was so widespread, few positions would have escaped exposure to the toxic material. Those at risk included:
- Boiler room workers
- Pump maintenance
- Engineers
- Motor mechanics
- Carpenters
- Caulkers
- Plumbers
- Machine captains
- Sailors
- Deck crew
- Electricians
- Machinists
- Pipefitters
- Firefighters
- Maintenance technicians
In addition to those onboard the ship, individuals responsible for building the Merchant Marine ships in America’s shipyards were also at significant risk of asbestos exposure.
Merchant Marine Ships with Asbestos
Merchant mariners serve on a wide range of ships that were built between the 1930s and 1980s when asbestos was a commonly used material. Some were tankers carrying fuel, and some carried cargo, passengers, and troops. The following ships were among the hundreds of merchant marine vessels that contained asbestos:
- S.S. Alcoa Cavalier
- S.S. Bay State
- S.S. Berkeley Victory
- S.S. Blue Grass State
- S.S. Borinquen
- S.S. Buckeye State
- S.S. Burco Trader
- S.S. C.H.M. Jones
- S.S. Cilco Logger
- S.S. Del Mar
- S.S. E.J. Block
- S.S. Elizabeth W. Moran
- S.S. Empire State
- S.S. Evergreen State
- S.S. Excalibur
- S.S. Gopher State
- S.S. Keystone State
- S.S. Little Butte
- S.S. Lurline (Matson Line)
- S.S. Mobilube
- S.S. Mormacdove
- S.S. Mormacsea
- S.S. Morris Hillquit
- S.S. Oakey L. Alexander (formerly the S.S. Laconia Victory)
- S.S. Oriente
- S.S. Pacific Victory
- S.S. Pan Massachusetts
- S.S. Pine Tree State
- S.S. President Cleveland
- S.S. Robin Gray
- S.S. Samuel Chase
- S.S. Sheldon Clark
- S.S. Simon Benson
- S.S. Socony 10
- S.S. Spencer Kellogg
- S.S. Steel Traveler
- S.S. Stonewall Jackson
- S.S. Thomas H. Barry
- S.S. Thomas Lynch
- S.S. Thomas Nelson
- S.S. Tydol Bayonne
- S.S. Uruguay
- S.S. William Hooper
- S.S. William J. Bryan
- S.S. William Mulholland
- S.S. Wilson B. Keene
Are Merchant Mariners Still at Risk of Being Exposed to Asbestos?
Though American ships are no longer built using asbestos, many of the vessels that are used by the merchant marines may have been built before asbestos was identified as a carcinogen or been built in countries that have not banned the use of the toxic material. Legacy asbestos hidden in insulation behind walls or on piping or boilers, in decking material, in gaskets and sealants, or in other shipboard locations still poses a significant risk. Merchant mariners working on these vessels need to be aware of the dangers and take steps to protect themselves.
The Dangers that Asbestos Exposure Poses to Merchant Mariners
Asbestos-related diseases are caused by inhaling microscopic asbestos particles. Once inhaled, the needle-like ends of these fibers become embedded in the cells lining the pleural cavity that holds the lungs or the peritoneal cavity that holds the abdominal organs. Once stuck, they are difficult to expel and quickly begin to cause cell death, which leads to scarring or genetic mutations that cause tumors to grow. This initial damage can lead to a range of serious illnesses, including:
- Asbestosis – A chronic lung disease that causes coughing and difficulty breathing.
- Lung cancer – Malignant tumors growing inside the lungs.
- Mesothelioma – A terminal illness characterized by aggressive, treatment-resistant tumors inside the pleural or peritoneal cavity.
Researchers have reported that merchant marine seamen are at high risk for these and other asbestos-related diseases. Notable studies include:
- A 1990 study conducted by researchers from the Department of Community Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York reported that one-third of long-term U.S. seamen who submitted to chest radiographs had pleural abnormalities and pleural changes and that the longer they had served onboard ships, the more abnormalities were found. The group found the highest number of changes among those merchant mariners who served in the engine department, though seamen in other departments, including deck, steward, and those who served in multiple departments, were also affected.[4]
- In 2023, a study was published by Italian researchers describing nearly 500 cases of malignant mesothelioma listed on the National Mesothelioma Register in Italy between 1993 and 2018. Of the cases investigated, 45.4 percent were maritime workers. The scientists broke the group down by job title and found that among the 23 classified jobs, the highest percentages of certain exposures were found in naval engineers, motor mechanics, machine captains, and sailors. All cases began with onboard exposure between 1926 and 1988, and seamen were exposed while living onboard ships and from the release of asbestos fibers due to the motion of their vessels.[5]
Were You Exposed to Asbestos in the Merchant Marines?
If you served in the Merchant Marines, there is a good chance that you were exposed to shipboard asbestos and at risk for an asbestos-related disease. Though you may not have any symptoms today, it’s still a good idea to report your exposure history to your medical professional so that they can include it in your medical records. You should also familiarize yourself with the symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses so that should they arise, you can seek treatment immediately.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, an experienced asbestos attorney can walk you through the many options available to you. You may be able to file a claim with one of the many asbestos trust funds that bankrupt asbestos companies have been required to establish to satisfy their asbestos liabilities, or you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit directly against those companies that remain solvent.
Many merchant mariners and their survivors have pursued justice through compensation from the asbestos companies responsible for their exposure. These include:
- The wife of a merchant mariner who died of malignant mesothelioma after having worked as a crew member aboard several vessels from 1941 to 1949 and again in 1956 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mobil Oil. Joseph Torrejon had been required to maintain and repair asbestos-containing equipment and to tear out and repair asbestos insulation. A jury trial ended in Mobil being ordered to pay $1.8 million in general damages and nearly $36,000 in special damages.[6]
Though a mesothelioma diagnosis is a shock, you need to act quickly. Every state has its own limit for how long asbestos victims have to take legal action, and once the deadline in your state has passed, your eligibility for compensation will have passed. A mesothelioma lawyer can explain these statutes of limitations, tell you how much time you have to file a claim and explain the process and what to expect.
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