Combustion Engineering Marine Boilers (Liberty Ships and Navy Vessels)

Product Description

Combustion Engineering, Inc. was one of the foremost manufacturers of industrial and marine boilers in the United States throughout the twentieth century. The company supplied boilers to the U.S. Navy and to commercial shipbuilding programs on a substantial scale, with its equipment installed aboard Liberty ships, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, cargo vessels, and other military and civilian watercraft produced before and during World War II and continuing through the postwar decades.

Liberty ships were a class of cargo vessel mass-produced by American shipyards beginning in 1941 to support Allied supply lines during World War II. More than 2,700 of these vessels were built, and many were powered by boilers manufactured by Combustion Engineering or incorporating Combustion Engineering components. Navy vessels of numerous classes similarly relied on marine boilers produced or specified by the company. These boilers generated the high-pressure steam that powered propulsion turbines, ship systems, and onboard machinery.

Combustion Engineering operated manufacturing and engineering facilities at multiple locations and held contracts with the U.S. government as well as private shipbuilders. The company’s marine boiler product line represented a significant portion of its commercial output during the mid-twentieth century, and Combustion Engineering boilers remained in service aboard ships for decades after their original installation, meaning worker exposures continued well beyond the initial construction period.

Asbestos Content

Marine boilers of the type produced by Combustion Engineering required extensive thermal insulation to contain the extreme heat generated by combustion and to maintain the efficiency of high-pressure steam systems. Asbestos was the insulation material of choice throughout the industry during the relevant production period because of its heat resistance, durability, and availability. Asbestos-containing materials were incorporated into multiple components of Combustion Engineering marine boilers, including:

  • Insulating block and blanket applied to the exterior surfaces of boiler casings and steam drums
  • Refractory and fireside insulation lining combustion chambers and fireboxes
  • Gaskets and packing used in flanged connections, handhole covers, manhole covers, and valve assemblies
  • Rope and tape used to seal joints and expansion points within the boiler system
  • Insulated pipe runs and fittings connected to and forming part of the boiler assembly

Asbestos insulation on marine boilers was typically composed of materials such as amosite (brown asbestos) and chrysotile, both of which are recognized as hazardous under OSHA and AHERA regulatory frameworks. Amosite was commonly used in block insulation applied to high-temperature steam equipment because of its particular resistance to heat degradation.

The U.S. Navy and the shipbuilding industry were aware at various points during the twentieth century that asbestos posed health risks, but widespread use of asbestos in marine applications continued for decades, and adequate warnings and protective measures were frequently absent or insufficient in shipyard and engine room environments.

How Workers Were Exposed

Workers who installed, operated, maintained, repaired, or overhauled Combustion Engineering marine boilers aboard Liberty ships, Navy vessels, and other maritime vessels were exposed to asbestos fibers through multiple pathways across the full lifecycle of these boilers.

Shipyard workers during original construction and fitting-out applied asbestos insulation directly to boiler casings, steam lines, and associated equipment. Workers in enclosed ship spaces mixed, cut, and shaped asbestos insulation materials, releasing substantial quantities of airborne fiber in confined and poorly ventilated areas.

Boilermakers and pipefitters installed and connected boiler assemblies, handled asbestos gaskets and packing, and worked in close proximity to other trades performing insulation work simultaneously. In the cramped engine rooms and firerooms of Liberty ships and Navy vessels, dust from one trade’s work contaminated the breathing air of all nearby workers.

Marine engineers and firemen who operated the boilers during voyages were exposed to any asbestos-containing materials that deteriorated over time or were disturbed during routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning fireboxes, replacing gaskets, and inspecting steam fittings.

Maintenance and repair workers — including those employed at shipyards, naval stations, and dry-dock facilities — conducted boiler overhauls, retubing operations, and insulation replacement throughout the operational lives of these vessels. Removing degraded or damaged asbestos insulation from boiler surfaces was among the highest-exposure tasks documented in the maritime industry, as old insulation materials were often brittle, crumbling, and highly friable.

Because Liberty ships and Navy vessels remained in active service for many years and because boiler insulation required periodic replacement, workers were exposed not only during construction but at regular intervals throughout a vessel’s operational life. Engine rooms and firerooms presented particular hazards because they were enclosed spaces with limited ventilation where airborne fiber concentrations could reach dangerous levels.

OSHA’s asbestos standards, codified at 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1001 and 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101, recognize ship repair as an industry with historically significant asbestos exposure. AHERA and subsequent regulatory guidance have identified marine boiler insulation as a recognized source of asbestos-containing material requiring specialized handling procedures.

Combustion Engineering, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in 2003, citing liabilities arising from asbestos-related personal injury claims associated with its products. As part of the bankruptcy reorganization, the company established the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust pursuant to Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This trust was created specifically to resolve asbestos personal injury claims against Combustion Engineering on an ongoing basis.

Trust Eligibility

Workers who were exposed to asbestos from Combustion Engineering marine boilers — including those aboard Liberty ships or Navy vessels — and who were subsequently diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a claim with the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust. The trust accepts claims for recognized asbestos-related diseases including:

  • Mesothelioma (malignant pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial)
  • Lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure history
  • Asbestosis and other non-malignant asbestos-related pulmonary conditions
  • Other asbestos-related diseases as defined in the trust’s distribution procedures

Claims are evaluated according to the trust’s Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP), which set out medical and exposure criteria that claimants must satisfy. Exposure to Combustion Engineering marine boilers is an established exposure basis under the trust’s documentation requirements.

Steps to Pursue a Claim

Individuals with a qualifying diagnosis and a history of occupational exposure to Combustion Engineering marine boilers should consult an attorney experienced in asbestos trust fund claims. An attorney can assist in gathering necessary documentation, including employment records, vessel service records, medical records, and physician statements confirming diagnosis and causation.

Family members of deceased workers who were exposed to Combustion Engineering marine boilers may have rights to file wrongful death or survival claims depending on the circumstances of exposure and applicable state law. The Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust maintains procedures for handling claims on behalf of deceased claimants through authorized legal representatives.

Individuals who believe they were exposed to asbestos from Combustion Engineering marine boilers are encouraged to seek legal counsel promptly, as asbestos claims are subject to statutes of limitations that vary by state and by claim type.