Asbestos on Ships: The Hidden Danger That Still Claims Lives Today
Asbestos on ships is not a historical footnote — it is an ongoing occupational health crisis that continues to affect workers, veterans, and their families decades after the peak of its use. From the engine rooms of wartime destroyers to the cramped bilges of commercial vessels, asbestos was woven into the very fabric of maritime construction for the better part of the twentieth century.
Understanding where it was used, who was at risk, and what the law requires today is essential for anyone working in or around the maritime industry. The consequences of getting this wrong are severe — and irreversible.
Why Shipbuilders Relied So Heavily on Asbestos
Asbestos seemed like the perfect material for shipbuilding. It was cheap, abundant, and genuinely effective at resisting heat, fire, and electrical hazards — all critical concerns aboard a vessel at sea. From roughly the 1930s through to the 1970s, it was specified into almost every part of a ship’s construction.
Shipbuilders were not cutting corners — they were using the best available insulation technology of the era. The tragedy is that those same properties that made asbestos so attractive also made the fibres lethal when disturbed. The workers who built, maintained, and served aboard these vessels paid an enormous price for an industrial decision they had no say in.
Where Asbestos Was Used on Ships
Asbestos appeared throughout a vessel’s structure in numerous forms. On ships built before the mid-1970s, it is safer to assume asbestos is present than to assume it is not.
The most common applications included:
- Boiler and engine room insulation — lagging around boilers, turbines, and steam pipes was almost universally asbestos-based
- Electrical systems — wiring insulation and switchboard panels used asbestos to prevent fire propagation
- Bulkheads and deckheads — sprayed asbestos coatings and asbestos-containing board provided fire protection throughout accommodation and working areas
- Gaskets and seals — compressed asbestos fibre gaskets were standard components in pipe flanges and valves
- Brake linings — particularly on aircraft carriers where deck machinery required heavy-duty friction materials
- Fuel and exhaust systems — heat-resistant lagging on pipes and manifolds
- Floor tiles and adhesives — asbestos-containing vinyl tiles were common in accommodation areas
In practical terms, there was almost nowhere on a ship built before the mid-1970s where you could be confident asbestos was absent. Every compartment, every system, and every trade was affected.
The Particular Danger of Submarines and Below-Deck Spaces
If surface ships were bad, submarines were considerably worse. The confined geometry of a submarine meant that asbestos insulation was packed into spaces with almost no ventilation, leaving workers who installed, maintained, or repaired equipment with no choice but to breathe whatever was suspended in the air around them.
Below-deck spaces on all vessel types shared a similar problem. Poor air circulation meant that fibres disturbed during maintenance work did not dissipate — they remained suspended in the atmosphere for hours. A pipefitter working on a steam joint in a submarine’s machinery space was effectively working inside a cloud of asbestos dust for an entire shift.
This is why rates of asbestos-related disease among submariners and below-deck workers tend to be disproportionately high compared with other maritime trades. The exposure was not occasional — it was continuous, concentrated, and inescapable given the working conditions of the time.
The Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure on Ships
The diseases caused by asbestos exposure are well-documented, serious, and in most cases incurable. What makes them particularly cruel is the latency period: symptoms typically do not emerge until 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure. Many workers who spent their careers in shipyards during the 1950s and 1960s only began developing illness in the 1990s and 2000s.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium — the lining that surrounds the lungs, abdomen, and heart. It is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and carries a very poor prognosis, with median survival after diagnosis typically measured in months rather than years.
Shipyard workers and naval personnel are among the occupational groups with the highest historical rates of mesothelioma. The disease does not discriminate by trade — welders, electricians, laggers, and even administrative staff who worked near asbestos operations have all been affected.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, and that risk multiplies substantially for workers who also smoked. The interaction between asbestos fibres and tobacco smoke is not simply additive — it is synergistic, meaning the combined effect is far greater than either factor alone.
Shipyard workers who were both exposed to asbestos and were smokers faced a considerably elevated risk compared with the general population. Many of these individuals were entirely unaware of the compounding danger they faced.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic fibrotic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres over time. The fibres embed in lung tissue and provoke an inflammatory response that leads to progressive scarring, reducing lung capacity and causing breathlessness that can eventually lead to respiratory failure.
Unlike mesothelioma, asbestosis is associated with higher cumulative exposures rather than single significant events. Workers who spent years in heavily contaminated environments — engine rooms, boiler spaces, submarine machinery compartments — were most at risk. There is no treatment that reverses the scarring.
Other Asbestos-Related Conditions
Beyond the three major diseases, asbestos exposure is associated with pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusion. These conditions may not always cause significant symptoms but serve as markers of past exposure and can complicate breathing over time.
Who Was Affected — Including Families
The direct workforce in shipyards bore the heaviest burden of exposure, but they were far from the only people affected. The trades most at risk included:
- Laggers and insulators — who worked directly with asbestos materials
- Welders and burners — who cut through asbestos-lagged pipework and structures
- Pipefitters and plumbers — who disturbed asbestos when working on pipe systems
- Electricians — who worked in cable runs and switchrooms lined with asbestos board
- Boilermakers — who maintained and repaired heavily lagged equipment
- Shipwrights and carpenters — who cut and shaped asbestos-containing board
Secondary exposure was also a significant and often overlooked problem. Workers carried asbestos fibres home on their clothing, hair, and skin. Family members — particularly spouses who laundered work clothes — received meaningful doses of asbestos without ever setting foot in a shipyard.
Cases of mesothelioma in the wives and children of shipyard workers are well-documented in the medical literature. Beyond the home, workers in adjacent trades — security staff, canteen workers, and office personnel — who shared spaces with asbestos workers also faced elevated risks. Exposure did not require direct handling of the material.
The Regulatory Response: From Negligence to Legal Duty
For much of the period when asbestos use was at its peak, there was either no regulatory framework to protect workers or the existing rules were inadequate and poorly enforced. Medical researchers raised alarms about asbestos-related disease in shipyard workers during the 1960s, but industrial practice was slow to change.
In the UK, the regulatory landscape has evolved significantly. The Control of Asbestos Regulations now set out the legal duties for managing asbestos in workplaces, including vessels. The HSE’s guidance document HSG264 provides detailed practical guidance on asbestos surveys and the management of asbestos-containing materials.
These regulations apply not just to buildings but to any workplace — including ships undergoing refit, repair, or demolition. Ignorance of the rules is not a defence, and the penalties for non-compliance can be severe.
International Maritime Organisation Requirements
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has also taken action. Requirements now exist that new ships must be asbestos-free and that vessels undergoing significant work must have an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) documenting where asbestos is present before entering certain yards for repair or recycling.
The IHM requirement places formal responsibility on shipowners to know what hazardous materials their vessels contain. It represents a meaningful step forward in managing the legacy of asbestos on ships at an international level.
The Clemenceau Incident
The case of the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau illustrated just how seriously the international community had come to take asbestos on ships. When the vessel was sent to India for scrapping, campaigners raised serious concerns about the quantity of asbestos still aboard, and France was ultimately compelled to recall the ship for proper decontamination before scrapping could proceed.
The episode served as a high-profile reminder that the legacy of asbestos in the maritime fleet could not simply be exported away. Proper management and removal must happen regardless of where a vessel ends its operational life.
Asbestos on Ships Today: The Risk Has Not Gone Away
It would be a mistake to think of asbestos on ships as purely a historical problem. Any vessel built before the mid-1980s is likely to contain asbestos-containing materials somewhere in its structure. Many of these ships are still in service, still undergoing maintenance, and still capable of exposing workers to asbestos fibres if the materials are disturbed without proper controls.
Ship repair yards, dry docks, and naval maintenance facilities all need robust asbestos management procedures. Before any significant maintenance or refurbishment work begins on an older vessel, an asbestos survey must be carried out to identify and locate any asbestos-containing materials. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations.
Where asbestos is found, it must either be managed in place — if it is in good condition and not likely to be disturbed — or removed by a licensed contractor. Proper asbestos removal on ships presents particular challenges due to confined spaces, limited ventilation, and the complexity of the structures involved, all of which make specialist expertise absolutely essential.
Safe Removal and Management of Asbestos on Ships
When asbestos-containing materials on a vessel need to be removed or disturbed, the work must follow strict protocols. Cutting corners is not an option — the consequences for workers and the surrounding environment are too serious.
Key elements of safe asbestos management in a maritime context include:
- Pre-work survey — a survey by a qualified surveyor to identify the type, location, and condition of all asbestos-containing materials before work begins
- Licensed contractors — for most types of asbestos removal, particularly friable materials such as sprayed coatings and pipe lagging, a licensed contractor is legally required
- Controlled work areas — enclosures with negative air pressure to prevent fibre migration beyond the work zone
- Appropriate respiratory protective equipment — the correct grade of respirator for the type of work being undertaken
- Air monitoring — continuous monitoring during removal to ensure fibre concentrations remain within acceptable limits
- Correct waste disposal — double-bagged, clearly labelled, and disposed of at a licensed facility
- Clearance inspection — a four-stage clearance procedure including a visual inspection and air testing before the area is returned to use
Each of these steps exists for a reason. Skipping any one of them creates a risk that can have consequences lasting decades — not just for the workers present, but for anyone who subsequently uses the space.
Practical Advice for Shipowners, Operators, and Maintenance Teams
If you own, operate, or maintain a vessel built before the mid-1980s, there are practical steps you should take now rather than waiting for a problem to emerge.
- Commission an asbestos survey if one has not been carried out recently. A management survey will identify the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials and allow you to manage them safely. A refurbishment or demolition survey is required before any intrusive work begins.
- Maintain an asbestos register for the vessel. This document should record where asbestos is located, its type and condition, and the risk it presents. It must be made available to anyone who may disturb the material.
- Brief contractors before they start work. Anyone carrying out maintenance, repair, or refurbishment work on an older vessel must be told about any known asbestos-containing materials before they begin. This is a legal obligation, not a courtesy.
- Never assume a material is safe. If you are uncertain whether a material contains asbestos, treat it as though it does until a sample has been analysed by an accredited laboratory.
- Review your procedures regularly. Asbestos management is not a one-off exercise. Conditions change — materials deteriorate, vessels are modified, and new work creates new risks. Regular review keeps your management plan current.
For organisations operating across multiple locations, it is worth noting that the same legal duties apply whether your vessel is based on the Thames, the Mersey, or the Clyde. Businesses seeking an asbestos survey in London for vessels or maritime facilities in the capital can access specialist support locally, as can those needing an asbestos survey in Manchester or an asbestos survey in Birmingham for inland waterway or dock-adjacent properties.
The Legacy We Cannot Ignore
The story of asbestos on ships is, at its core, a story about what happens when industrial convenience is prioritised over worker safety — and about the decades-long consequences that follow. The workers who built Britain’s naval and merchant fleets during the mid-twentieth century had no meaningful choice about their exposure. Many of them, and members of their families, paid with their lives.
The regulatory framework that exists today — the Control of Asbestos Regulations, HSG264, and international maritime requirements — exists precisely because of that legacy. Compliance is not bureaucratic box-ticking. It is the minimum owed to everyone who will work on, in, or around these vessels going forward.
The responsibility now falls on shipowners, operators, maintenance managers, and contractors to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. That means surveying before working, managing what cannot be removed, and removing what must be removed — properly, legally, and safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asbestos still found on ships in active service?
Yes. Any vessel built before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos-containing materials in its structure, insulation, or equipment. Many such ships remain in active service or are undergoing maintenance. Until a qualified surveyor has inspected the vessel and confirmed otherwise, it is safest to assume asbestos may be present in older ships.
What legal duties apply to asbestos on ships in the UK?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations apply to any workplace, including vessels undergoing repair, refit, or demolition. Shipowners and operators have a duty to manage asbestos-containing materials, commission appropriate surveys before intrusive work, and ensure that any removal is carried out by a licensed contractor. The HSE’s HSG264 guidance provides detailed practical support for meeting these obligations.
What is an Inventory of Hazardous Materials and do I need one?
An Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) is a document required under International Maritime Organisation regulations for certain vessels. It records the location and quantity of hazardous materials — including asbestos — on board. It is required for new ships and for vessels entering yards for recycling or significant repair work. Shipowners should check whether their vessels fall within the scope of these requirements.
Can asbestos on a ship be managed in place rather than removed?
In some circumstances, yes. If asbestos-containing materials are in good condition, are not likely to be disturbed, and are properly documented and monitored, managing them in place may be appropriate. However, if materials are damaged, deteriorating, or located in areas where work will disturb them, removal by a licensed contractor is required. A qualified surveyor can advise on the correct approach for your specific vessel.
What should I do if I suspect asbestos has been disturbed on a vessel?
Stop work immediately and clear the area. Do not attempt to clean up any debris yourself. Notify your asbestos management team or a licensed contractor, and ensure that no one re-enters the affected space until it has been assessed and, if necessary, cleared by a competent person following the four-stage clearance procedure. Document the incident and report it in accordance with your asbestos management plan.
Get Expert Support from Supernova Asbestos Surveys
Supernova Asbestos Surveys has completed over 50,000 surveys across the UK, working with property managers, facility operators, and organisations in specialist sectors including maritime and industrial environments. Our qualified surveyors understand the unique challenges that asbestos on ships and dock-side facilities presents.
Whether you need a management survey, a refurbishment survey ahead of vessel maintenance, or advice on your legal obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, our team is ready to help. Call us on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to find out more or book a survey.