The SS Sarah J. Hale was a Liberty ship built at J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida, during World War II. The ship was named after Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, an American writer, and an influential editor. The SS Sarah J. Hale was laid down on 29 September 1943, under a Maritime Commission contract, and launched on 24 November 1943. On 31 December 1943, the SS Sarah J. Hale was allocated to International Freight Corp. Two years later, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 31 July 1972, she was sold for scrapping to N.V. Intershitra, Rotterdam. The U.S. Navy was one of the largest consumers of asbestos products, and this meant that a lot of sailors were constantly being exposed to the deadly fibers during their time in service, and diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases 20 to 50 years later. As noted by specialized physicians, some of the common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and chronic cough. Anyone who has worked onboard the SS Sarah J. Hale should be on alert for signs of asbestos-related diseases and consult a doctor immediately if they experience any associated symptoms.
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