SS Borinquen
The SS Borinquen was built at the Kaiser Shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, but originally the ship went under a different name. When it was first launched, the vessel was known as the SS Marine Falcon, and that was later changed to the SS Trenton. It was not until 1975 that she received her final name, and proudly sailed as the Borinquen until 1989.
When the vessel was first built it was delivered to the United States Maritime Commission for use as part of the Merchant Marine Fleet. The craft sailed for years in the service of the fleet, but by 1948 it was laid up and taken off of active duty. By 1966 Litton Industries Ltd. had purchased the vessel, and soon after it was officially named the SS Borinquen, the ship was put to use by the Puerto Rico Maritime Shipping Authority.
By the time the Borinquen was officially retired, it had been sailed all across the globe with thousands of different people on board. These brave citizens were proud to do their duty, but every person that helped make up the crew over the years may have been subjected to an unseen threat that put their very lives at risk. The danger was from the insulation and a few other products found within the vessel, because they contained the mineral known as asbestos. Although it was highly praised as one of the greatest natural resources when it was first discovered in the United States, asbestos was later proven to be a toxin that was responsible for making millions of people ill.
All you have to do to be harmed by asbestos is simply be near it. The mineral is made up of microscopic fibers, and when they break apart they become airborne. Victims breathe the fibers in and are not even aware of it until many years later. Asbestos fibers will remain in the respiratory system indefinitely and often do damage such as scarring healthy lung tissue, creating breathing disorders and developing into an incurable type of cancer called Mesothelioma. This disease is untreatable and has the potential to take the lives of its victims.
Because the dangers of asbestos were not realized until the 1970's, anyone who sailed on the SS Borinquen was put at risk for being exposed to asbestos. While not every crew member will become sick, anyone who inhales the poisonous fibers may develop severe health problems as a result.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
