USNS Barrett (T-AP-196) Areas With Asbestos Exposure

The USNS Barrett (T-AP-196) was one of the Barrett class, AP-type transport ships, laid down in 1949 as SS President Jackson; the vessel was launched in 1950 and converted to troop transport before completion in 1952, when the Navy acquired and placed the ship in service. She participated in the Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 Campaign, earning one battle star for her service, and in the Vietnam War - she was awarded three campaign stars. Originally designed as a modern passenger liner, the vessel could accommodate 2.000 troops and had the most popular feature: air-conditioning. The USNS Barrett (T-AP-196) was stricken from the Naval Register in 1973 and was converted to a training ship until 1990, when she was replaced. In the following period, the transport ship was placed in the Maritime Service's National Defense Reserve Fleet at James River until 2007, when she was sold for scrap. Asbestos was a concern as far back as World War II due to its potential health risks. Asbestos fibers get caught in the lung tissue when inhaled, and, over time, they can pile up and lead to severe health problems. Given that asbestos diseases don't manifest symptoms until several years after the initial exposure, Navy veterans could be at risk of developing such conditions even now.