USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) — Asbestos Aboard the Last Conventional Carrier

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built for the United States Navy and sometimes classified as a one-ship Kennedy class, was commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding in September 1968 — the final conventional carrier the Navy would build before completing its transition to nuclear-powered carrier aviation. Kennedy served exclusively in the Atlantic Fleet throughout her career, deploying repeatedly to the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet and conducting Persian Gulf operations including combat deployments in support of Desert Storm and other post-Cold War contingency operations. Kennedy was the last conventional carrier to conduct combat operations when she deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2002–2003. Kennedy’s conventional steam propulsion plant — eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers and four sets of Westinghouse geared turbines — powered her through her 39-year service until decommissioning in 2007. Built in the late 1960s, Kennedy incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials consistent with the late 1960s construction specifications representing the tail end of peak asbestos use in naval construction.

USS Kennedy Steam Plant Asbestos

Kennedy’s eight-boiler steam plant incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Babcock & Wilcox boiler insulation — Kennedy’s eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation and steam drum insulation consistent with late 1960s naval construction specifications. Boilermen working in Kennedy’s eight firerooms accumulated asbestos exposure from the boiler insulation throughout her 39-year service life
• High-pressure steam main pipe insulation — the high-pressure steam mains throughout Kennedy’s engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with 1968 naval construction specifications. Engineering ratings working in Kennedy’s machinery spaces encountered steam main insulation throughout the propulsion plant
• Main propulsion turbine insulation — Kennedy’s four Westinghouse main propulsion turbine sets incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with late 1960s construction specifications. Machinist’s Mates performing turbine maintenance worked in proximity to asbestos-containing turbine insulation
• Steam catapult systems — Kennedy’s steam catapult systems and the aviation support steam distribution serving the catapult accumulators and other aviation equipment incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation and valve packing throughout the aviation support steam system

USS Kennedy Hull Construction Asbestos

Kennedy’s late 1960s construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

• Crew berthing and living spaces — Kennedy’s crew berthing areas and working spaces for her 5,000-plus complement were constructed using late 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing floor tile, overhead insulation, and bulkhead construction materials
• Engineering and propulsion spaces — the engineering spaces and propulsion plant compartments aboard Kennedy were constructed using late 1960s naval construction specifications incorporating asbestos-containing materials at the tail end of the peak asbestos use period in naval construction

VA Claims for USS Kennedy Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy carrier steam plant service. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, and crew members who served aboard USS John F. Kennedy and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

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.