The USS Mackinac (AVP-13), a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender that saw service during World War II, was laid down on 29 May 1940 at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington. It was launched on 15 November 1941 and commissioned on 24 January 1942 with Commander Norman R. Hitchcock in command. After the war, the USS Mackinac (AVP-13) was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1967 as the cutter USCGC Mackinac (WAVP-371), later WHEC-371, the second ship of the Coast Guard or its predecessor, the United States Revenue Cutter Service, to bear the name. The US Navy allowed the use of more than 300 asbestos-containing materials in shipbuilding until the 1970s. Asbestos was excellent for parts exposed to high temperatures and areas prone to corrosion. It was difficult to locate an area on a ship where asbestos was not utilized — which placed the majority of the shipbuilding sector at danger. Asbestos was often found in ship boilers, incinerators, insulating materials, and other components. As a result, those working on ships or in shipyards are at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses.
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