SS Mobilube

Ships that were part of the Merchant Marine fleet were frequently put to use by the military during times of war. One such vessel, the SS Mobilube, served during World War II. In January of 1943 the ship was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Three people died upon the initial impact of the weapon, and the ship was towed to the closest dock and eventually declared to be a total loss.

This incident, however, was not to be the end for the name SS Mobilube. In April of 1948 a second ship with that title was built, and it also became a part of the Merchant Marine fleet. Because the second World War had ended in 1945, the ship was initially launched to transport goods across international waters to support the United States economy.

Although the second SS Mobilube did not face the dangers of enemy submarines that its predecessor was forced to deal with, it did have an extreme element of danger right on board. This was because the ship contained a large amount of asbestos, which was found in insulation, rubber gaskets and other important items all throughout the craft. The products that were made out of this naturally occurring mineral were strong and long lasting, but also very hazardous. People weren't aware of this at the time, but asbestos is a poisonous material that has been the cause of thousands of deaths and many more serious illnesses.

Any product that contains asbestos becomes a health threat, because tiny particles of the mineral can break free and float in the air. They are small enough to be invisible to the human eye, and so people often inhale the substance without even knowing. When this happens, the toxins go to work on the respiratory system, and over a period of many years or even decades they can do massive and irreversible internal damage.

People who ingest asbestos are frequently subjected to tissue scarring which makes normal breathing labored and difficult. They suffer from respiratory disorders, and often develop lung cancer. There are two serious and untreatable diseases that are commonly linked to exposure to asbestos: Asbestosis and Mesothelioma. Neither has a cure, and advanced cases can be fatal.

People who sailed on board the SS Mobilube were put at great risk for ingesting asbestos and becoming sick or even losing their lives as a result. It was not until the 1970's that most people became aware of the dangers from this natural resource, and by then an untold number of people had worked with or around it. Thousands, and perhaps millions of people have been made ill after being exposed to this toxic substance.

Last modified: December 09 2009.