Asbestos in Ships: What Every Worker, Owner and Surveyor Needs to Know
Asbestos in ships remains one of the most serious and persistent occupational health hazards in the maritime industry. Whether you work in a shipyard, manage a vessel, or oversee a commercial fleet, understanding where asbestos hides, how exposure happens, and what UK law requires is not optional — it is essential.
The consequences of getting it wrong can be fatal, and they can take decades to appear. This post covers the materials involved, the health risks, the legal framework, and the practical steps needed to protect workers and comply with regulations.
Why Ships Are Such a High-Risk Environment for Asbestos
Ships built before the mid-1980s were constructed during an era when asbestos was considered the ideal building material. It was cheap, abundant, fire-resistant, and highly effective as insulation — all qualities that made it attractive to naval architects and shipbuilders alike.
Asbestos was used extensively throughout vessels of all types: commercial cargo ships, passenger liners, tankers, and Royal Navy warships. The quantity used was staggering. Commercial ships could contain several tonnes of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), while larger naval vessels held considerably more.
Even today, vessels built before the mid-1980s that remain in service, are being repaired, broken up, or decommissioned still contain significant amounts of ACMs. The risk has not gone away — it has simply shifted from new construction to maintenance, refurbishment, and ship breaking.
Where Asbestos Is Found in Ships
Asbestos was used in virtually every part of a ship where fire resistance, insulation, or durability was required. If you are working on or surveying an older vessel, assume ACMs are present until a proper survey confirms otherwise.
Insulation and Thermal Systems
Boilers, steam pipes, and engine room insulation were among the heaviest users of asbestos in ships. Lagging — the insulation material wrapped around pipes and boilers — was almost universally made from asbestos until safer alternatives became available. This lagging degrades over time, releasing fibres into the air.
Engine rooms are therefore among the most hazardous areas on any older vessel. Heat, vibration, and constant maintenance activity all accelerate the deterioration of ACMs in these spaces.
Structural and Decorative Materials
Asbestos was incorporated into a wide range of structural and finishing materials throughout a vessel’s interior. Many of these materials are not immediately visible — they sit behind panels, beneath flooring, or inside equipment casings.
Common locations include:
- Deck tiles and floor coverings
- Bulkhead (wall) panels and ceiling tiles
- Fire doors and fire-resistant partitions
- Gaskets and packing materials
- Rope and textiles used in electrical systems
- Spray coatings applied to structural steel
- Adhesives and mastics used in fitting out
- Paint and coatings on certain surfaces
This is precisely why a thorough management survey is the only reliable way to establish what is present before any maintenance or routine work begins on an older vessel.
Mechanical and Electrical Components
Pumps, valves, and gaskets throughout a vessel’s mechanical systems frequently contained asbestos. Electrical cables were often wrapped in asbestos-based fireproof materials, and hydraulic systems used ACMs in older ships as a matter of course.
These components require regular maintenance, which means workers are repeatedly exposed to potentially disturbed ACMs during routine servicing — not just during major overhauls. This is one of the most underappreciated exposure routes in the maritime sector.
How Shipyard Workers and Crew Are Exposed to Asbestos
Exposure to asbestos in ships does not only happen during dramatic demolition work. It occurs during everyday maintenance tasks, in confined spaces where fibres accumulate, and sometimes without workers realising the materials they are handling contain asbestos at all.
Direct Exposure During Repair and Maintenance
Cutting, drilling, grinding, or disturbing any ACM releases microscopic fibres into the air. In the confined spaces below deck — engine rooms, boiler rooms, cable runs — ventilation is poor and fibre concentrations can reach dangerous levels quickly.
Workers carrying out what appear to be simple jobs — replacing a gasket, re-lagging a pipe, or cutting through a bulkhead — can receive significant asbestos exposure if ACMs are present and the work is not properly controlled. The confined nature of shipboard spaces makes this risk particularly acute.
Secondhand and Environmental Exposure
Asbestos fibres are microscopic and cling to clothing, hair, and skin. Workers who handle ACMs can carry fibres home, exposing family members through what is known as secondary or domestic exposure. This has caused serious illness in the relatives of shipyard workers and naval personnel.
In large shipyards, fibres released in one area can travel through ventilation systems or on air currents to affect workers in adjacent spaces who are not directly involved in the disturbing work.
Ship Breaking and Decommissioning
The breaking up of older vessels is one of the highest-risk activities in the maritime industry. When a ship is dismantled, ACMs that have been undisturbed for decades are suddenly exposed, cut, and removed. Without rigorous controls, fibre levels in ship breaking yards can be extremely high.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, strict duties are placed on anyone responsible for work that disturbs asbestos, and ship breaking is no exception. Licensed asbestos contractors must be used for the removal of the most hazardous ACMs, including pipe lagging and spray coatings.
Before any significant dismantling work begins, a full demolition survey must be completed. This is a legal requirement, not a recommendation, and it must be intrusive enough to access all areas of the vessel.
The Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure in the Maritime Industry
The diseases caused by asbestos exposure are serious, progressive, and in many cases fatal. What makes them particularly insidious is the latency period — the time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years or more.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. It is aggressive, has a poor prognosis, and cannot be cured in most cases.
Shipyard workers and naval veterans are disproportionately represented among those diagnosed with mesothelioma in the UK. The long latency period means that people working in shipyards in the 1960s and 1970s are still being diagnosed today. The disease does not discriminate between those who worked directly with ACMs and those who were simply present in areas where asbestos was being disturbed.
Asbestosis and Pleural Disease
Asbestosis is a chronic scarring of the lung tissue caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres over time. It causes progressive breathlessness, a persistent cough, and chest tightness. There is no treatment that reverses the damage — management focuses on slowing progression and improving quality of life.
Pleural thickening and pleural plaques are also common among those with significant asbestos exposure. While pleural plaques are not themselves disabling, they are a marker of exposure and can cause discomfort. Both conditions are recognised under UK occupational disease law.
Lung Cancer and Other Cancers
Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly in those who also smoke. It has also been linked to cancers of the larynx, ovary, and gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease — including persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, and shortness of breath — should always be investigated promptly by a GP, particularly in anyone with a history of working in shipyards or on older vessels.
UK Legal Framework: What the Regulations Require
In the UK, the management and removal of asbestos is governed primarily by the Control of Asbestos Regulations and associated HSE guidance documents, including HSG264 for asbestos surveys. These regulations apply to all workplaces, including vessels under UK jurisdiction.
The Duty to Manage
Anyone responsible for a non-domestic premises — including a vessel used for commercial purposes — has a duty to manage asbestos. This means identifying whether ACMs are present, assessing their condition and risk, and putting in place a management plan to prevent exposure.
For ships and maritime facilities, this duty applies to the owners and operators of vessels, as well as to those responsible for shipyard buildings and dry dock facilities. Ignorance of the regulations is not a defence.
Asbestos Surveys for Vessels and Maritime Premises
HSG264 sets out the two main types of asbestos survey. A management survey identifies ACMs that may be disturbed during normal use and maintenance, while a demolition survey is required before any significant work that will disturb the fabric of a building or vessel.
For a ship undergoing refurbishment or decommissioning, a full refurbishment and demolition survey is essential before work begins. This survey must be intrusive — accessing all areas, including those behind panels and within equipment — to ensure nothing is missed.
Supernova Asbestos Surveys carries out surveys across the UK, including at port facilities and maritime premises. Whether you need an asbestos survey London for a vessel or dock facility, our team can advise on the right survey type and deliver a thorough, HSG264-compliant report.
Licensed Removal and Notifiable Non-Licensed Work
The Control of Asbestos Regulations distinguishes between licensed work — which must be carried out by a contractor holding a licence from the HSE — and notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW). Pipe lagging, spray coatings, and loose asbestos insulation all fall into the licensed category.
Before any asbestos removal work begins on a vessel, the type of ACM must be identified and the appropriate contractor engaged. Attempting to remove licensed materials without the correct authorisation is a criminal offence and puts workers at serious risk.
Protective Measures for Workers in Shipyards and on Vessels
Where asbestos is present and work must be carried out, proper controls are non-negotiable. The hierarchy of control under UK health and safety law requires that exposure is eliminated where possible, and where it cannot be eliminated, it must be reduced to the lowest reasonably practicable level.
Personal Protective Equipment
Workers disturbing ACMs must wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) — typically a half-face or full-face respirator with a P3 filter, or a powered air-purifying respirator. Disposable coveralls, gloves, and boot covers must also be worn to prevent fibres being carried out of the work area.
RPE must be correctly fitted and face-fit tested to be effective. A mask that does not seal properly provides little protection. Employers are legally required to ensure workers are trained in the correct use, fitting, and disposal of PPE.
Controlled Work Areas and Air Monitoring
Licensed asbestos removal work must be carried out within a controlled enclosure, with negative pressure ventilation to prevent fibres escaping. Air monitoring must be conducted during and after the work to confirm that fibre levels are within acceptable limits before the area is cleared for re-occupation.
Records of air monitoring, waste disposal, and the work itself must be retained. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, employers must keep records of workers’ exposure to asbestos for a minimum of 40 years.
Training and Information
Anyone who is liable to disturb asbestos in the course of their work must receive appropriate asbestos awareness training. For workers carrying out licensed removal, additional specific training is required. Employers have a legal duty to provide this training and to ensure it is kept up to date.
In shipyards and on vessels, this means that maintenance engineers, electricians, pipe fitters, and anyone else working on older ships must be trained before they pick up a tool. Asbestos awareness training is not a one-off box-ticking exercise — it must be refreshed regularly and be relevant to the actual tasks workers perform.
Practical Steps for Vessel Owners, Fleet Managers and Shipyard Operators
If you are responsible for a vessel or maritime facility built before the mid-1980s, the following steps are not optional. They are the baseline of legal compliance and worker protection.
- Commission an asbestos survey. If no survey has been carried out, or if records are incomplete, arrange a survey immediately. For vessels in active service, a management survey establishes what is present and where. For vessels about to undergo significant work, a refurbishment and demolition survey is required.
- Create and maintain an asbestos register. The survey report forms the basis of your asbestos register. This document must be kept up to date, accessible to anyone who might disturb ACMs, and reviewed regularly.
- Implement a written management plan. The duty to manage requires not just identification but action. Your management plan should set out how ACMs will be monitored, who is responsible, and what controls are in place.
- Engage licensed contractors for high-risk work. Never attempt to remove pipe lagging, spray coatings, or other high-risk ACMs without a licensed contractor. The cost of doing this properly is vastly lower than the cost of enforcement action, civil liability, or the human cost of preventable disease.
- Train your workforce. Ensure all relevant workers have up-to-date asbestos awareness training. Keep records of training completed.
- Review before any planned maintenance or refurbishment. Before any work begins on an older vessel, check the asbestos register and, if the work is intrusive, commission a further survey if necessary.
Asbestos Surveys for Maritime Premises Across the UK
Supernova Asbestos Surveys operates nationwide, supporting vessel owners, shipyard operators, port authorities, and maritime businesses with HSG264-compliant surveys and expert advice. With over 50,000 surveys completed, our team understands the specific challenges of surveying complex structures — including vessels, dry docks, and port facilities.
We cover every major UK location. If you need an asbestos survey Manchester for a port facility or dry dock in the North West, or an asbestos survey Birmingham for an inland waterway or marine engineering site, our surveyors are ready to assist.
We provide clear, actionable reports that tell you exactly what is present, where it is, what condition it is in, and what you need to do next. There is no ambiguity, no jargon, and no unnecessary delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asbestos still present in ships today?
Yes. Any vessel built before the mid-1980s is likely to contain asbestos-containing materials. Many of these ships remain in service, are undergoing maintenance, or are being decommissioned. The presence of asbestos does not automatically make a vessel unsafe, but it must be identified, managed, and controlled in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations.
Do the Control of Asbestos Regulations apply to ships?
Yes. The Control of Asbestos Regulations apply to all workplaces under UK jurisdiction, including commercial vessels. Owners and operators of vessels have a duty to manage asbestos just as the owner or manager of any other non-domestic premises would. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action by the HSE and significant civil liability.
What type of asbestos survey does a ship need?
This depends on what work is planned. For vessels in active service where only routine maintenance is being carried out, a management survey is the appropriate starting point. For any vessel undergoing significant refurbishment, conversion, or decommissioning, a full refurbishment and demolition survey is required before work begins. HSG264 sets out the standards that both survey types must meet.
Who can remove asbestos from a ship?
The type of contractor required depends on the category of ACM involved. High-risk materials — including pipe lagging, spray coatings, and loose asbestos insulation — must be removed by a contractor holding a current HSE licence. Other materials may fall into the notifiable non-licensed work category, which still requires notification to the relevant enforcing authority and adherence to strict controls. Never attempt to remove any ACM without first establishing its category through a proper survey.
What are the symptoms of asbestos-related disease?
Asbestos-related diseases typically have a latency period of 20 to 50 years, meaning symptoms may not appear until decades after exposure. Warning signs include persistent breathlessness, a chronic cough, chest tightness or pain, and unexplained weight loss. Anyone with a history of working in shipyards or on older vessels who experiences these symptoms should seek medical advice promptly and inform their GP of their occupational history.
Speak to Supernova Asbestos Surveys Today
If you are responsible for a vessel, shipyard, or maritime facility and need expert asbestos surveying support, do not wait. The legal obligations are clear, the health risks are serious, and the right survey gives you the information you need to protect your workers and comply with the law.
Call Supernova Asbestos Surveys on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to discuss your requirements with our team. We have completed over 50,000 surveys across the UK and are ready to help you manage asbestos safely, legally, and efficiently.