SS Grover Cleveland

The SS President Cleveland was built by American President Lines Ltd. (APL) in April of 1947, and put to use as a member of the Merchant Marine fleet for the United States. This vessel was among the first that was created by APL for the purpose of transporting goods internationally. It also held another distinction in that it was used in a television series called The Gale Storm Show from 1956 until 1960.

Hundreds of people sailed aboard the ship which was named after the man who served as both the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, Grover Cleveland. His first term was from 1885-1889, and his second was 1893-1897. President Cleveland received the honor of having three ships named after him.

As part of the Merchant Marine fleet, the SS President Cleveland served two separate purposes. During times of peace it was utilized to transport large commodities overseas and acted as a participant in the commerce of the US. In a time of war the vessel would be used instead for the transportation of military supplies and troops as needed.

Despite it's many years of duty and honor, the presence of asbestos on board the SS President Cleveland created a black mark on the history of the ship. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was manufactured into a large number of products which were used for most every aspect of life. One of the first and most common uses for the mineral was to create a tough, durable insulating material that was resistant to the most extreme temperatures and even able to help prevent the spread of fire. Of course this is a beneficial feature on board any ship, so it would seem that this type of insulation was ideal, but asbestos is also toxic. The microscopic fibers that comprise the substance can easily break apart and become airborne, allowing for anyone around to inhale them without even being aware that they were breathing in anything other than oxygen.

When people ingest asbestos, the fibers become permanently trapped in their respiratory system where they can have an extremely damaging effect. The mineral will start to corrode healthy lung tissue and this leads to breathing disorders and various maladies such as Asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos is a known cause of the incurable and often deadly cancer called Mesothelioma. Tragically, the brave men and women who sailed on board the SS President Cleveland while asbestos goods were in use were placed at great risk of exposure to the poisonous substance.

Last modified: December 09 2009.