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Did you work with Amercoat asbestos-fibered heavy-duty marine and tank-lining protective coating? According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, it allegedly contained asbestos. Here is what it was, who was exposed, and who is responsible. Amercoat asbestos-fibered heavy-duty marine and tank-lining protective coating, made by PPG Industries (Pittsburgh Plate Glass), sold from the 1950s until the 1970s. Plaintiffs have alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that PPG's Amercoat marine coating line allegedly contained chrysotile asbestos as a reinforcing filler and allegedly exposed shipyard painters, tank-liner applicators, and refinery vessel crews to airborne asbestos during prep and application. Chrysotile asbestos fiber allegedly incorporated as a reinforcing filler in Amercoat epoxy and coal-tar marine coatings, released as respirable dust during sanding, blast-preparation, spray-atomization overspray, and dry-scrape removal on hulls, ballast tanks, and refinery vessels. Workers allegedly exposed around this product included Painters, Shipyard Workers, and Tank Cleaners. Asbestos claims are brought against the companies that made the products. If you worked with or around Amercoat asbestos-fibered heavy-duty marine and tank-lining protective coating and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.
Product Description
Amercoat, originally developed by Amercoat Corporation of Brea, California and later acquired by and marketed through PPG Industries’ Protective and Marine Coatings division, was allegedly sold as a family of heavy-duty coatings for ship hulls, ballast tanks, cargo holds, refinery process vessels, chemical storage tanks, and offshore structural steel. Plaintiffs have alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that specific Amercoat epoxy, coal-tar epoxy, and vinyl protective coating grades allegedly contained chrysotile asbestos fiber as a reinforcing additive that improved film thickness, sag resistance, and abrasion durability in immersion service.
According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, asbestos-fibered Amercoat products were allegedly specified into Navy vessels, merchant tankers, refinery revamps, and chemical-plant maintenance cycles from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Workers Exposed
- Shipyard painters and blast-and-paint crews applying Amercoat in confined tanks and holds
- Refinery and chemical-plant maintenance painters recoating process vessels and storage tanks
- Sandblasters removing weathered Amercoat during dry-dock and turnaround cycles
- Tank cleaners and confined-space entry crews scraping legacy coal-tar Amercoat film
- Insulators, welders, and pipefitters working alongside freshly sanded coated steel