Merchant Marines

The United States is very much a maritime nation, largely surrounded by water and relying on sea-going vessels to transport and deliver items that are important to our economy.

Indeed, merchant vessels are essential to everyday life in America. Each day, ships depart from the country's many ports to deliver goods to other countries. In addition, other merchant vessels arrive at our nation's ports with items from other countries that have become essential to our well-being. Tankers carry petroleum for our refineries and other large vessels tote coal or iron ore. Also, in the time of war, the military largely depends on ships to bring them the supplies they need, no matter where they're stationed.

All of those merchant vessels need reliable, hard-working men and women to staff them. Those are the nation's merchant marines. These people may serve as shipboard officers or as leaders in the transportation field.

Being a merchant marine is an old and noble profession. For as many years as the U.S. has been relying on transportation upon the water, merchant marines have taken up the cause, providing the manpower needed to lead and staff these vessels.

But the job of merchant marine hasn't always been a safe one. There are many dangers involved with being a merchant marine and exposure to asbestos is just one of them.

Merchant Marines and Asbestos

Ships were traditionally full of asbestos, especially those built from about the late 1920s to 1975. Asbestos was used extensively aboard ships for insulation purposes, so it wasn't unusual for the merchant marine to find asbestos-containing materials wrapped around pipes, boilers and furnaces, and even the ovens in the ship's galley.

Any loading or unloading of the ship may have also prompted exposure to asbestos and its dangerous fibers. In days gone by, merchant marines may have even been aboard ships that carried asbestos bundles from one place to another.

The small, cramped spaces of a ship make it even easier to inhale toxic asbestos. Often, these small areas are not well ventilated so asbestos particles stay in the air longer and can do more damage to the lungs that inhale them.

Though modern ships do not contain asbestos insulating materials, those who worked as merchant marines several decades ago are finally recognizing the dangers of asbestos as many of them are being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Today's merchant marines should be diligent in learning about the presence of asbestos aboard old ships on which they might be traveling. Appropriate protective gear should always be worn.

Mechant Marine Shipyards

Mechant Marine Ships

Last modified: December 09, 2009.