United States Navy oceanographic research vessels — designated AGOR — and associated research and survey ships operated primarily under the Naval Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, and Navy Oceanographic Office for scientific data collection, acoustic research, and ocean mapping throughout the Cold War. These vessels used diesel propulsion plants and were built in the postwar era using the same construction materials — including asbestos insulation in machinery spaces and interior construction — as other Navy auxiliary vessels of the period.

Diesel Propulsion and Asbestos Exposure

AGOR research vessels used diesel engines for propulsion, with asbestos-containing components in the same applications as other Navy diesel vessels:

  • Diesel engine exhaust systems with asbestos gaskets on manifolds and exhaust components
  • Auxiliary electrical generation equipment with asbestos-insulated electrical cables and switchgear
  • Pipe insulation on hot water and heating distribution systems using asbestos-containing covering
  • Interior construction of laboratory, berthing, and working spaces using asbestos floor tile and overhead materials consistent with postwar Navy construction

Scientific Crew and Asbestos Presence

AGOR vessels carried both Navy crew for ship operation and scientific personnel from Navy research organizations or civilian contract researchers. Scientific crew members who worked in the ship’s laboratory spaces and lived aboard in berthing areas were present in spaces with asbestos-containing building materials throughout the vessel. Engineering crew who maintained the propulsion and hotel systems encountered asbestos in machinery spaces during normal maintenance operations.

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) maintained fleets of research vessels and survey ships that conducted classified and unclassified oceanographic work throughout the Cold War. Personnel assigned to research vessel billets — whether as ship’s company or as scientists and technical staff — were present aboard vessels with the asbestos-containing construction standard in Navy vessel building through the 1970s.

VA Claims for Research Vessel Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure aboard Navy research and auxiliary vessels. Veterans who served aboard AGOR-designated research ships or other Navy research vessels before the early 1980s and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer should consult with a veterans benefits attorney about documenting their exposure history.

Product & Manufacturer Reference

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 Research Vessels (AGOR)

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:

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.