Navy Patrol & Repair Ships

Patrol and Repair ships may not receive the glory and appreciation of naval destroyers or aircraft carriers, but they certainly should, as they are the single most important reason these vessels are able to continue operating. Patrol vessels are smaller and faster vessels, which will typically run non-hostile missions to maintain a peaceful maritime landscape and alert more war-ready vessels of impending danger. These vessels proved critical during WWI and WWII, as they saved the lives of thousands of soldiers during advance scouting cruises ahead of the allies’ war fleet.

Repair vessels are equally important. These vessels would rendezvous with damaged vessels at sea and perform on site repairs, allowing the vessel to continue on its cruise without having to stopover at a naval shipyard. Often, repair vessels were able to keep naval ships afloat and save thousands of lives in the process.

Unfortunately, as important as both these types of ships were, they also contained a great deal of asbestos. Sailors aboard either of these types of vessels may have been exposed to asbestos within the ships boilers, piping, and ventilation systems. Repair vessel sailors often encountered damaged asbestos fixtures, which are much more hazardous. Several harmful exposures have occurred aboard naval vessels of all types. For more information about specific patrol or repair ships and asbestos, please view our listing below.

Patrol Ship Listing

Repair Ship Listing

Last modified: December 09 2009.