Aurora Pump — Asbestos in Navy Centrifugal Pumps and Cooling Water Systems
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC
•June 24, 2026
•
2 min read
Aurora Pump, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, was a manufacturer of centrifugal pumps for industrial and marine applications, supplying the United States Navy with centrifugal pump equipment for installation in shipboard seawater cooling systems, circulation systems, and auxiliary service water systems aboard naval vessels throughout the mid-twentieth century. Aurora centrifugal pumps were installed in Navy vessel cooling water systems, bilge pumping systems, and general service water systems aboard surface combatants and auxiliary vessels. According to asbestos litigation records, Aurora centrifugal pump assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing shaft packing in pump shaft stuffing boxes and asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials in pump casing cover joints, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who performed pump maintenance in naval vessel machinery spaces and auxiliary equipment spaces.
Centrifugal Pump Asbestos
Aurora pump assemblies incorporated asbestos in shaft and casing joint sealing:
- Centrifugal pump shaft stuffing box packing — Aurora centrifugal pumps incorporated asbestos-containing braided packing in the pump shaft stuffing boxes sealing the shaft entry into the pump casing. Pump shaft packing required periodic replacement as packing compressed and shaft leakage developed. Machinist’s Mates repacking Aurora pump shaft stuffing boxes removed and replaced the asbestos-containing shaft packing during each repacking operation, with direct handling of the old asbestos packing during removal releasing asbestos fiber
- Pump casing cover gaskets — Aurora centrifugal pump casings incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at casing cover joint faces. Machinist’s Mates removing pump casing covers for impeller inspection or internal pump maintenance encountered asbestos-containing gasket materials at the casing cover joint faces during pump maintenance
- Suction and discharge flange gaskets — the suction and discharge flanges on Aurora centrifugal pumps incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at connection flange faces. Machinist’s Mates servicing pump suction and discharge piping connections encountered asbestos gasket materials at Aurora pump flanges during piping maintenance
VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Aurora Pump Products
VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy pump maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who performed centrifugal pump maintenance on Aurora Pump installations aboard naval vessels and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
Connect With a Navy Asbestos & Mesothelioma Attorney
Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
- Free case evaluation — no obligation to hire
- No attorney fee unless we make a financial recovery
- Civil claims against asbestos manufacturers & bankruptcy trust funds
- Maritime statute of limitations: 3 years from diagnosis (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
- Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
O'Brien Law Firm
Civil mesothelioma & asbestos litigation — veterans and their families.
VA disability benefits are a separate government process. To file a VA disability claim for asbestos exposure, visit VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or contact a Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion) for free claim assistance.
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