Asbestos Exposure in USS Enterprise (CV-65)

Hull Number: CV-65
Type: Aircraft Carrier
Class: Enterprise
Built: Newport News, VA

About USS Enterprise (CV-65)

Newport News Shipbuilding constructed this 1,123 foot vessel during the late 1950s, planned to be the first of six ships in its class. Rising costs forced the cancellation of the other ships, leaving the USS Enterprise as the sole Enterprise-class ship to serve in the U.S. Navy.

The first nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier ever built, the Enterprise was the eighth Navy vessel to bear the name. It was commissioned in November of 1961, and is slated to remain in active service until 2013. It holds a maximum complement of 5,828 men, and carries up to 90 aircraft.

Asbestos Exposure Case in USS Enterprise (CV-65)

Sailors who have served aboard the USS Enterprise may be at risk of developing mesothelioma and other deadly diseases due to the presence of asbestos, which was used in equipment and materials on the ship at the time of its construction.

Ships built between the 1930’s and 1970’s made use of asbestos in components such as boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, and electrical components. Materials such as packing and gaskets were also made of the substance.

Those who worked in the engine and boiler spaces of the ship are at the greatest risk, as these areas held the highest concentration of asbestos components.

Although the companies that made asbestos products were often aware of the health hazard asbestos posed, those serving aboard ships were never warned. Because of this, many of these sailors became afflicted with mesothelioma later in life.

Navy Veterans who served aboard asbestos-containing ships were likely exposed over the course of their regular duty, and have a right to pursue compensation. Settlements can help cover the costs of medical care and provide additional sums for victims and their families’ suffering. The law limits the time a lawsuit can be filed however, so it is important to seek legal counsel soon after being diagnosed.