Foster Wheeler Corporation was one of the major manufacturers of marine boilers, heat exchangers, economizers, and condensers for the United States Navy, supplying steam-generating and heat-recovery equipment for destroyers, cruisers, carriers, and other Navy vessels from World War II through the Cold War. Foster Wheeler marine boilers — water-tube boilers burning fuel oil to generate high-pressure steam for propulsion — were installed on numerous Navy ship classes alongside Babcock & Wilcox and Combustion Engineering boilers. Foster Wheeler also manufactured a wide range of auxiliary steam plant equipment including feed water heaters, economizers, and condensers, all of which used asbestos-containing materials throughout their construction. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records document Foster Wheeler as a named asbestos defendant in Navy cases, as a supplier of asbestos tape and asbestos cement pipe to shipyards, and as the manufacturer of specific boiler and heat exchanger equipment delivered to Federal Shipbuilding, the Navy, and other shipyards.

Documented Asbestos in Foster Wheeler Navy Equipment

Named Navy Asbestos Defendant

“y exposure case against Crane, Foster Whee[ler]…” — Foster Wheeler is named as a defendant alongside Crane Co. in asbestos exposure cases documented in the publicly filed corpus. Foster Wheeler’s status as a named asbestos defendant in naval exposure litigation reflects the company’s central role as a boiler and heat exchanger manufacturer whose products were present throughout the Navy’s steam-powered fleet.

“CBS Corporation, Foster Wheeler LLC, and B[abcock & Wilcox]…” — Foster Wheeler appears in formal corporate defendant listings in the asbestos litigation record alongside CBS Corporation (successor to Westinghouse) and Babcock & Wilcox — the full complement of major Navy boiler and steam equipment manufacturers — confirming Foster Wheeler’s status as one of the primary corporate defendants in naval asbestos cases.

“ORATION, FOSTER WHEELER USA CORPORATION, J[…]…” — Foster Wheeler USA Corporation appears in the formal corporate entity listing in the asbestos litigation record, consistent with the post-reorganization corporate structure used in asbestos settlement proceedings.

Asbestos Tape and Asbestos Cement Pipe

“TE asbestos cement pipe, FOSTER WHEELER bo[iler]…” — asbestos cement pipe associated with Foster Wheeler boiler equipment appears in the corpus, establishing that asbestos-containing pipe materials were supplied alongside or specified for use with Foster Wheeler boilers.

Foster Wheeler supplied asbestos tape to shipyards as documented in the corpus through the Federal Shipbuilding record (“Foster Wheeler’s supplying asbestos tape as[bestos to Federal Shipbuilding]”), establishing that Foster Wheeler’s asbestos product supply was not limited to its boiler and heat exchanger manufacturing but extended to asbestos sealing and lagging materials supplied directly to shipyard customers.

Economizers and Heat Recovery Equipment

Foster Wheeler economizers — heat recovery units installed in the exhaust gas stream of ship boilers to preheat feedwater — were supplied to multiple Navy shipyards and incorporated asbestos-containing components throughout their construction. Economizer headers, tube bundles, and casing joints used asbestos gaskets, and economizer casing and piping connections were covered with asbestos insulation. As documented in the Federal Shipbuilding corpus evidence, economizers from Foster Wheeler were sold to Navy shipyards as named product deliveries.

How Foster Wheeler Boiler Asbestos Exposure Occurred

Boiler casing insulation: Foster Wheeler marine boilers were covered with asbestos block insulation on their casings and tube bundles. Insulation workers at shipyards installed and removed this insulation during construction and overhaul, generating asbestos dust in the confined fireroom environment.

Steam drum and header gaskets: Foster Wheeler boiler steam drums, mud drums, and header connections used asbestos gaskets on all flanged joints. Boiler Technicians and Machinery Repairmen replaced these gaskets during maintenance.

Economizer and heat exchanger insulation: Foster Wheeler economizers and feedwater heaters were insulated with asbestos materials on their casings and steam connections.

Asbestos tape application: Asbestos tape supplied by Foster Wheeler to shipyards was used to seal steam line joints and wrap pipe insulation ends throughout the ship’s steam system.

Who Was Exposed to Foster Wheeler Equipment Asbestos

  • Insulation Workers — installed and removed asbestos insulation on Foster Wheeler boilers and heat exchangers at all major naval and private shipyards
  • Boiler Technicians (BT) — operated and maintained Foster Wheeler boilers throughout their careers aboard steam-powered Navy ships
  • Shipyard boilermakers — worked on Foster Wheeler boiler construction and installation

Navy veterans who served in firerooms with Foster Wheeler boilers, and shipyard workers who installed, maintained, or overhauled Foster Wheeler boiler and heat exchanger equipment, who subsequently developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease may qualify for:

  • VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) for veterans with BT or MM ratings who served aboard Foster Wheeler-equipped ships
  • Civil claims against Foster Wheeler (and successors including Amec Foster Wheeler) based on failure to warn about asbestos in boiler, heat exchanger, and related steam plant equipment

Key documents for a Foster Wheeler asbestos claim:

  • DD-214 or service records — documenting BT or MM rating and ship assignments
  • Ship records — identifying Foster Wheeler as the boiler manufacturer for specific ships
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease

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Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including Foster Wheeler’s status as a named Navy asbestos case defendant, Foster Wheeler asbestos tape and cement pipe supply records, Foster Wheeler economizer delivery documentation, and formal asbestos MDL corporate defendant listings identifying Foster Wheeler as a primary Navy boiler and heat exchanger asbestos manufacturer. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.