Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) — Asbestos in Salvage and Fleet Tug Operations

By Rights Watch Media Group LLC •June 23, 2026 • 2 min read

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US Navy fleet ocean tugs — ATF (Ocean-Going Fleet Tug) and ATA (Auxiliary Ocean Tug) class vessels — provided salvage towing, distressed vessel towing, shipyard towing assistance, and maritime rescue capability for the US Navy throughout WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. The most notable ATF class was the Abnaki class (ATF-96 through ATF-165 series), 62 vessels built during and after WWII for the fleet tug mission. ATF fleet tugs were powered by diesel-electric propulsion — General Motors or Diesel Engineering diesel generators driving electric motors — providing the sustained towing power needed for long-range salvage towing operations. Earlier WWII-era fleet tugs used steam propulsion. Fleet tug crew members — including Boatswain’s Mates, Enginemen, and specialized salvage ratings — worked in the confined machinery spaces of these working vessels and accumulated asbestos exposure from both the machinery system materials and the interior construction of these fleet tugs.

Diesel-Electric and Steam Propulsion Asbestos

Navy fleet tug propulsion systems used asbestos-containing materials:

Diesel engine system gaskets — ATF and ATA diesel-electric fleet tugs used General Motors and other diesel generators with asbestos-containing exhaust and cylinder gasket materials in the diesel engine assemblies. Enginemen performing diesel maintenance encountered asbestos gasket materials during engine overhaul in the confined tug machinery spaces
Steam plant insulation in earlier steam-powered tugs — earlier WWII-era steam-powered fleet tugs used asbestos block insulation on boiler casings and asbestos pipe covering throughout the steam distribution systems, creating significant asbestos exposure for Boiler Tender ratings maintaining these steam plants during wartime towing and salvage operations
Tug engine room piping systems — the auxiliary piping systems in fleet tug engine rooms used asbestos-containing gasket materials in pipe flange connections throughout the engineering spaces

Salvage Operations and Asbestos Exposure

Fleet tug salvage work created additional asbestos exposure pathways:

Damaged and sunken vessel salvage — ATF and ATA fleet tugs performing salvage operations on damaged or sunken vessels — including WWII-era casualties with asbestos-containing construction — brought tug crew members into proximity with disturbed asbestos-containing materials from the interiors of the salvaged vessels during salvage diving, pumping, and towing operations

VA Claims for Fleet Tug Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy auxiliary vessels. Engineering ratings and salvage personnel who served aboard Navy fleet ocean tugs and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

Boilerman (BT) — boiler-room operations, refractory work, burner maintenance
Machinist’s Mate (MM) — main propulsion turbines, reduction gears, condensers, pumps
Engineman (EN) — auxiliary diesel and gasoline engines, gland packing
Electrician’s Mate (EM) — cable runs through asbestos-insulated chases, motor-generator sets
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) / Pipefitter — piping system maintenance, gasket replacement, valve repacking
Damage Controlman (DC) — firefighting equipment, fire-stops, bulkhead penetrations
Fireman (FN) — engineering-plant tending across boiler and engine rooms

VA Presumptive Benefits — No Filing Deadline

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease as conditions presumed to be service-connected for Navy veterans with documented asbestos exposure under 38 CFR § 3.309(d). No statute of limitations applies to VA disability compensation claims.

Available benefits may include monthly disability compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, priority VA healthcare enrollment, and Special Monthly Compensation for severe cases. Parallel claims against the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds established by the manufacturers of these products do not reduce VA compensation.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.

Documented Asbestos-Exposure Environments — U.S. Navy Service

Public-domain U.S. Navy photographs illustrating the engineering spaces, ratings, and yard environments where asbestos materials were routinely encountered during normal duty.

Boiler Room Sailor stands watch in the aft machinery room of USS Iwo Jima. (35298984822) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Drydock Overhaul USS Newport News (CA-148) in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard 1965 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engine Room Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - USS Sterett Sailor takes equipment readings in ship's engine room. Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Engineering Watch USS Bataan Stands Full Female Engineering Watch Team (8442031) Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry … — Machinist Mate US Navy 061108-N-6652A-037 U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Roy Hernandez, left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Jerry Rivera work on a rotor … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Navy Fireroom Fireroom aboard USS Rochester (CA-124), in 1955 Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the … — Shipyard Worker US Navy 080208-N-6538W-019 Civilian yard workers from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard perform maintenance on the bow catapults of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier … Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

All images are public domain (U.S. Government works). Specific photographs depict generic Navy engineering and yard environments — not the named vessel above. Asbestos materials shown or implied include pipe lagging, boiler insulation, steam-line covering, and gasket / packing materials standard on U.S. Navy vessels through the early 1980s.

Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) — Frequently Asked Questions

Are Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) veterans covered by Navy asbestos litigation records?

Yes. Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) is documented in the public U.S. Navy asbestos litigation record. U.S. Navy vessels of her service era were built to BUSHIPS specifications that required asbestos insulation throughout engineering spaces, on steam lines, around boilers and turbines, and in gasket and packing materials.

Which shipboard components on Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) contained asbestos?

Asbestos-containing materials documented aboard U.S. Navy vessels of Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA)'s era include: boiler insulation and lagging, steam-line pipe insulation, turbine and reduction-gear casings, valve packing, gaskets, brake and clutch friction materials, electrical wire insulation, overhead pipe coverings in berthing and mess spaces, and Navy-issue boiler cement and refractory in fireboxes.

What ratings were exposed to asbestos serving on Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA)?

Navy ratings with the highest documented asbestos exposure include Machinist's Mate (MM), Boiler Technician (BT), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), Engineman (EN), Electrician's Mate (EM), Interior Communications Electrician (IC), Damage Controlman (DC), and Pipefitter / Shipfitter. Officers in engineering departments also encountered asbestos in normal duty. Shipyard workers performing overhaul, repair, or refit work had concentrated exposure during yard periods.

Do Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) veterans qualify for VA disability for mesothelioma?

Yes. Mesothelioma is recognized by the VA as service-connected for veterans with documented Navy service and qualifying asbestos exposure. Navy Ocean Tugs (ATF/ATA) veterans (or surviving family) typically file at VA.gov, by phone at 1-800-827-1000, or with assistance from a Veterans Service Officer through DAV, VFW, or American Legion. Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers are separate from VA benefits — many veterans pursue both paths.

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.

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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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