Asbestos on Ships: The Hidden Danger Still Threatening Workers Today

Asbestos on ships is not a problem confined to history books. Vessels built before the 1980s were packed with this material from bow to stern, and the consequences for those who worked aboard them — or still do — continue to unfold decades later. From engine rooms to sleeping quarters, asbestos was woven into the very fabric of maritime construction, and the toll on human health has been devastating.

If you work in shipbuilding, ship repair, or the wider maritime industry, or if you manage vessels or dockyard facilities, understanding this risk is not optional — it is essential.

Why Asbestos Was Used So Extensively on Ships

Asbestos seemed like the ideal material for shipbuilders. It was cheap, abundant, and extraordinarily resistant to fire, heat, and moisture — all critical concerns aboard a vessel at sea. From the 1930s through to the late 1970s, it was used in enormous quantities across commercial, naval, and industrial ships.

The maritime environment made asbestos particularly attractive. Ships run hot — boilers, engines, steam pipes, and electrical systems all generate intense heat in confined spaces. Asbestos managed that heat effectively, and for decades, nobody in the industry questioned the cost to human health.

Asbestos was also acoustically useful. In the cramped, noisy interior of a working vessel, it helped dampen sound and vibration. Combined with its fire-retardant properties, it became the material of choice for almost every aspect of ship construction — structural, mechanical, and domestic alike.

Where Asbestos Was Found on Ships

Asbestos was not confined to one area of a vessel. It was used throughout the entire structure, often in concentrations far higher than in land-based buildings. A single large naval vessel could contain several tonnes of asbestos-containing material, meaning that anyone who worked on or around these ships was exposed to significant fibre levels over the course of their career.

Common locations where asbestos on ships was found include:

Boiler rooms: Thick asbestos lagging wrapped around pipes and boilers to retain heat and prevent burns
Engine rooms: Asbestos-lined walls to absorb noise and manage extreme temperatures
Steam pipework: Asbestos insulation running the entire length of the vessel
Electrical systems: Asbestos-coated wiring and junction boxes to prevent fire from electrical faults
Bulkheads and internal walls: Asbestos sheeting sandwiched between metal panels for fireproofing
Deck flooring: Asbestos floor tiles throughout crew areas and working spaces
Sleeping quarters and mess rooms: Sprayed asbestos coatings on ceilings and walls
Submarines: Even higher concentrations due to confined spaces and critical fire safety requirements
Gaskets and seals: Asbestos-based gaskets used throughout machinery to prevent dangerous leaks
Storage areas: Sprayed asbestos on walls and ceilings to protect supplies from heat damage

That scale of use meant that everyone working on or around these ships — not just those directly handling asbestos — was at risk of significant exposure.

The Serious Health Risks of Asbestos on Ships

The diseases caused by asbestos exposure are serious, often fatal, and — critically — they can take between 20 and 60 years to manifest. This latency period is one of the most troubling aspects of asbestos-related illness. A shipyard worker who retired in the 1980s may only now be receiving a diagnosis.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, and it is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. It is aggressive, difficult to treat, and typically diagnosed at a late stage because symptoms can mimic other conditions for years.

Shipyard workers and seafarers are among the occupational groups most heavily represented in mesothelioma statistics. The nature of their work — cutting, fitting, and disturbing asbestos materials in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation — created conditions for extremely high fibre exposure.

Lung Cancer and Asbestosis

Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly in those who also smoked. Asbestosis — a chronic scarring of the lung tissue — is another serious condition caused by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibres.

Both conditions cause progressive breathing difficulties and can severely reduce quality of life and life expectancy. There is no cure for asbestosis; management focuses on slowing progression and improving comfort.

The Risk to Those Who Never Touched Asbestos Directly

One of the most sobering aspects of shipyard health research is that exposure was not limited to those who physically handled asbestos. Office workers, security staff, and administrative personnel who simply worked in the same dockyard environment were also affected.

Asbestos dust does not stay where it is created. It travels through ventilation systems, settles on clothing, and lingers in the air long after the initial disturbance. Workers who never picked up a single piece of asbestos lagging have still developed mesothelioma as a result of their time in a shipyard environment.

The Dockyard Legacy: An Ongoing Problem

Dockyards were — and in some cases remain — among the most hazardous environments for asbestos exposure. Workers spent long hours in enclosed spaces, cutting, fitting, and removing asbestos-containing materials with little or no protective equipment. The dust generated in these conditions was substantial.

Historical research into shipyard worker cohorts from the mid-twentieth century demonstrated clear links between dockyard employment and elevated rates of respiratory disease and asbestos-related cancers. The evidence has been consistent across multiple countries and multiple decades.

Today, the problem has not disappeared — it has simply changed form. Workers involved in ship repair, refitting, and breaking are still encountering asbestos on ships that remain in service or are being decommissioned. In some parts of the world, ship-breaking is carried out with minimal protection, exposing workers to serious harm.

Even in the UK, vessels undergoing maintenance or survey work may disturb asbestos-containing materials if proper precautions are not in place. This is not a theoretical risk — it is an active one.

Legal and Compensation Challenges for Affected Workers

Securing compensation for asbestos-related illness is rarely straightforward. The long latency period means that by the time a diagnosis is made, the employer responsible may no longer exist, records may have been lost, and witnesses may have died.

UK courts have awarded significant sums in successful asbestos compensation claims, recognising the negligence of employers who failed to protect their workers from known risks. These cases have helped establish important legal precedents and provided some measure of justice for affected individuals and their families.

For military veterans, the situation can be particularly complex. Those who served aboard Royal Navy vessels and were exposed to asbestos face specific legal challenges when seeking compensation through standard routes. Specialist legal advice is essential for anyone in this position.

The key practical steps for anyone who believes they have been exposed to asbestos through shipyard or maritime work include:

Seek medical advice promptly — early detection of asbestos-related conditions can improve outcomes
Document your employment history as thoroughly as possible, including dates, locations, and the nature of your work
Consult a solicitor who specialises in industrial disease claims
Contact relevant trade unions or support organisations for asbestos victims
Register with your GP that you have a history of asbestos exposure so it is flagged in your medical records

Asbestos on Ships Today: The Retrofitting Challenge

One of the most persistent problems in the maritime industry is the sheer number of older vessels still in service that contain asbestos. Asbestos removal from a ship is not a simple task. It requires specialist contractors, detailed planning, strict containment measures, and significant cost — all within the challenging physical environment of a vessel that may still be operational.

Many ship owners have deferred removal work due to the expense and complexity involved. This means that maintenance crews, engineers, and surveyors working on these vessels continue to face potential exposure if asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during routine work.

The practical challenges of retrofitting older ships include:

Asbestos is often located in areas that are difficult to access without dismantling major structural components
Removal work must be carefully planned to avoid contaminating other areas of the vessel
Work may need to be phased around the vessel’s operational schedule
Specialist waste disposal is required, adding to cost and logistical complexity
Any disturbance of asbestos during non-removal work must be managed to prevent fibre release

The starting point for any vessel owner or manager is a thorough asbestos survey to establish exactly what is present, where it is located, and what condition it is in. Without this baseline information, it is impossible to manage the risk effectively.

UK Regulations Governing Asbestos on Ships

In the UK, the Control of Asbestos Regulations place clear legal duties on those who manage or work with asbestos-containing materials. These regulations apply to ships and maritime environments just as they do to land-based buildings.

The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance document HSG264 provides detailed practical guidance on asbestos surveying, and its principles apply to any environment where asbestos may be present — including vessels.

The International Maritime Organisation has also established requirements relating to asbestos on ships, including restrictions on the use of asbestos in new vessels and requirements for the management of existing asbestos on older ones.

Key regulatory requirements include:

Duty holders must identify asbestos-containing materials and assess their condition
An asbestos management plan must be in place for any premises or vessel where asbestos is present
Workers who may disturb asbestos must receive appropriate training
Licensed contractors must carry out higher-risk asbestos removal work
Air monitoring must be conducted during and after removal to verify safety
Accurate records must be maintained and made available to anyone who may work on the vessel

Failure to comply with these requirements is not just a regulatory risk — it is a direct risk to the health of anyone who works on or around the vessel.

Safe Removal and Disposal of Asbestos from Ships

When asbestos removal from a vessel is required, the process must follow strict protocols to protect workers and prevent contamination. Professional removal work on ships involves several critical stages that must not be cut short.

A safe and compliant removal process will typically include:

A detailed survey and sampling programme to identify all asbestos-containing materials before work begins
Full enclosure of the work area using sealed plastic sheeting to prevent fibre spread
Workers wearing appropriate respiratory protective equipment and disposable protective suits
Wetting of asbestos materials during removal to suppress dust
Use of HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment to capture fine fibres
Double-bagging of all asbestos waste in clearly labelled, sealed containers
Continuous air monitoring throughout the removal process
Final clearance air testing before the enclosure is removed and the area is handed back
Transportation of waste to a licensed disposal facility by a registered waste carrier
Issue of a waste transfer note and documentation confirming safe completion of the work

Cutting corners on any of these steps creates serious risks — both to the health of workers and to the legal liability of the vessel owner or manager.

Asbestos Management Plans for Vessels and Maritime Facilities

An asbestos management plan is not a document you produce once and file away. For vessels and maritime facilities, it is a living document that must be kept up to date as conditions change, as work is carried out, and as materials deteriorate over time.

A robust asbestos management plan for a vessel should include:

A complete register of all asbestos-containing materials identified during survey
A condition assessment for each material, updated regularly
Clear instructions for anyone who may work near asbestos-containing materials
A record of all work carried out on or near asbestos-containing materials
Details of any remediation or removal work completed
Emergency procedures in the event of accidental disturbance
Named responsibility for maintaining and acting on the plan

The management plan must be accessible to all relevant personnel — including contractors brought on board to carry out maintenance or repair work. If a contractor disturbs asbestos because they were not informed of its presence, the duty holder bears significant legal responsibility.

Getting an Asbestos Survey for a Ship or Maritime Facility

Whether you manage a working vessel, a dry dock, a repair facility, or a historic ship, the first step towards managing asbestos risk properly is commissioning a professional asbestos survey.

For vessels, this typically means a management survey to identify accessible asbestos-containing materials and assess their condition. Where refurbishment or demolition work is planned, a more intrusive refurbishment and demolition survey will be required — this involves accessing areas that would not normally be disturbed and must be completed before any structural work begins.

Supernova Asbestos Surveys carries out professional asbestos surveys across the UK. If your vessel or maritime facility is based in or around the capital, our asbestos survey London service covers the full range of survey types. We also provide specialist surveying services in the North West through our asbestos survey Manchester team, and across the Midlands via our asbestos survey Birmingham operation.

With over 50,000 surveys completed nationwide, our surveyors understand the specific challenges that maritime and industrial environments present. We work to HSE guidance and the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations, delivering clear, actionable reports that give you the information you need to protect your workers and meet your legal duties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is asbestos still found on ships in service today?

Yes. Many vessels built before the late 1970s and early 1980s still contain asbestos-containing materials, particularly in engine rooms, boiler rooms, and pipework insulation. Even where some removal has taken place, residual asbestos may remain in hard-to-access areas. Any vessel of this age should have a current asbestos survey and management plan in place.

Who is responsible for managing asbestos on a ship?

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, the duty to manage asbestos falls on the person or organisation in control of the premises — which, in the case of a vessel, typically means the owner or operator. This duty includes identifying asbestos-containing materials, assessing their condition, producing a management plan, and ensuring that anyone who may work near asbestos is informed of its presence and condition.

What types of asbestos were most commonly used in shipbuilding?

All three main types of asbestos were used in shipbuilding: crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), and chrysotile (white asbestos). Crocidolite and amosite are considered the most hazardous and were widely used in pipe lagging and insulation boards. Chrysotile was used extensively in floor tiles, gaskets, and textiles. All three types are now banned in the UK.

Can I carry out maintenance work on a ship that contains asbestos?

Routine maintenance can be carried out on vessels containing asbestos, provided that the asbestos-containing materials are not disturbed and that all workers have been informed of the location and condition of asbestos in the areas where they are working. If there is any risk of disturbance, appropriate controls must be in place. Higher-risk work involving the removal of asbestos must be carried out by a licensed contractor.

What should I do if I think I was exposed to asbestos during shipyard work?

If you believe you were exposed to asbestos during shipyard or maritime work, you should inform your GP of your exposure history so it is recorded in your medical notes. Seek medical advice if you experience any respiratory symptoms. You should also consult a solicitor who specialises in industrial disease claims, as you may be entitled to compensation even if the exposure occurred many years ago. Documenting your employment history as fully as possible will support any future claim.

Supernova Asbestos Surveys provides professional asbestos surveys and management support for vessels, maritime facilities, and industrial premises across the UK. To discuss your requirements or book a survey, call us on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk.

Asbestos Exposure in Shipbuilding: A Legacy of Health Risks