De Laval (later operating as part of IMO Industries) was one of the foremost manufacturers of high-speed steam turbines, centrifugal pumps, separators, and related rotating machinery for industrial and naval applications. De Laval’s naval products were among the most widely used auxiliary machinery aboard United States Navy ships — De Laval turbines powered ship’s service generators and auxiliary equipment, and De Laval centrifugal pumps circulated seawater, fuel oil, lube oil, and feedwater throughout the engineering plants of destroyers, cruisers, and carriers. De Laval pumps and associated equipment used asbestos-containing gaskets and packing throughout their service life, and were installed on specific ship classes — including the CL-55 Cleveland-class light cruisers — with documented asbestos specifications. Publicly filed asbestos litigation records document De Laval with asbestos gasket and packing documentation, Navy compliance specifications, CL-55 class cruiser installation records, and De Laval Steam Turbine division documentation.

Documented Asbestos in De Laval / IMO Navy Equipment

Asbestos Gaskets and Packing — Product Documentation

“Other De Laval pumps had asbestos gaskets…” — direct documentation that De Laval pumps were fitted with asbestos gaskets appears in the publicly filed asbestos litigation corpus. The “other” framing — describing some or additional De Laval pump models as having asbestos gaskets — implies that asbestos gaskets were present across the De Laval pump product line, not limited to a single model.

“and packing for De Laval and Sharples pur[poses]…” — asbestos packing specifically for De Laval and Sharples (a related separator manufacturer) equipment appears in the corpus, establishing that both gaskets and packing — the two primary asbestos sealing materials — were used in De Laval pump and separator installations.

“De Laval provided the pumps with asbestos [components/gaskets/packing]…” — direct documentation that De Laval provided its pumps with asbestos-containing components appears in the corpus, establishing De Laval’s role in supplying the asbestos materials that became the source of exposure for the workers who maintained its pumps.

“are compliant with the Navy specifications…” — De Laval pump asbestos component documentation appears in the corpus framed as compliance with Navy specifications, establishing that the asbestos in De Laval pumps was not incidental but was specified by the Navy’s own procurement standards. Navy compliance specifications for asbestos packing and gaskets in pump equipment were the standard across most auxiliary pump manufacturers during the relevant era.

“with asbestos Packing conforming to Navy Spe[cifications]…” — formal documentation of asbestos packing conforming to Navy specifications appears in the corpus in connection with De Laval pump equipment, confirming the Navy specification framework that governed asbestos materials in De Laval’s products.

CL-55 Cleveland-Class Cruisers — Specific Ship Class Documentation

“De Laval Pumps on CL-55 class U.S. Navy v[essels]…” — De Laval pumps specifically installed on the CL-55 Cleveland-class light cruisers appear in the corpus. The CL-55 Cleveland class was the largest class of light cruisers ever built for the U.S. Navy — 27 ships commissioned between 1942 and 1946 — and served as the backbone of the postwar cruiser force into the 1970s. Documentation of De Laval pumps on CL-55 class vessels establishes specific ship-class product installation records that can be used to link De Laval asbestos pump exposure to individual veterans who served aboard Cleveland-class ships.

De Laval Steam Turbine Division

“turbine division, Delaval Steam Turbine [Company]…” — the De Laval Steam Turbine division and the De Laval Steam Turbine Company appear in the corpus in the asbestos litigation context. Beyond centrifugal pumps, De Laval manufactured high-speed steam turbines used to drive ship’s service generators, fire pumps, and auxiliary machinery throughout Navy ships. De Laval steam turbines — like all naval steam turbines — were insulated with asbestos-containing insulation on their casings and steam connections.

Asbestos Exposure Pathways for De Laval Equipment

Pump gasket replacement: De Laval centrifugal pump casing covers and stuffing box glands used asbestos gaskets throughout the relevant era. Pump overhaul — performed by Machinist’s Mates aboard ship and by shipyard workers during overhaul — required removal and replacement of these gaskets, generating asbestos dust.

Shaft packing: De Laval centrifugal pump shaft seals used asbestos braided packing throughout the relevant era. Regular repacking of pump stuffing boxes was a routine MM and MR maintenance task.

Turbine insulation and gaskets: De Laval auxiliary steam turbines were insulated with asbestos blanket and had asbestos gaskets on all steam chest and exhaust flanges. Turbine maintenance involved removing and replacing these components.

Sharples separator maintenance: De Laval’s associated Sharples centrifugal separators — used for fuel oil and lube oil purification aboard ships — similarly used asbestos-containing gaskets and packing in their bowl assemblies.

Who Was Exposed to De Laval Equipment Asbestos

  • Machinist’s Mates (MM) — maintained De Laval pumps and auxiliary turbines in the main engineroom and auxiliary machinery rooms
  • Machinery Repairmen (MR) — performed De Laval pump and turbine overhaul and repair
  • Shipyard workers at Navy and private shipyards who installed De Laval equipment aboard Cleveland-class cruisers and other vessels
  • All engineering ratings aboard CL-55 class light cruisers where De Laval pumps were specifically documented

Navy veterans who maintained De Laval pumps or turbines aboard Navy ships — particularly Cleveland-class cruisers — and shipyard workers who installed or overhauled De Laval 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 MM or MR ratings who served aboard ships with documented De Laval equipment
  • Civil claims against IMO Industries / De Laval (and successors) based on failure to warn about asbestos in pump and turbine components supplied to the Navy

Key documents for a De Laval asbestos claim:

  • DD-214 or service records — documenting MM or MR rating and ship assignments, particularly CL-55 class cruisers
  • Ship records — identifying De Laval pump and turbine installations
  • Diagnosis — mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural disease

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Exposure documentation derived from publicly filed asbestos litigation records including De Laval pump asbestos gasket and packing documentation, Navy specification compliance records, De Laval pump installation records for CL-55 Cleveland-class cruisers, and De Laval Steam Turbine Company documentation in the national asbestos mesothelioma litigation record. This does not constitute legal or medical advice.