The USS Zeus (ARB-4) was an Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ship laid down on June 17, 1943, and launched on October 26, the same year. It was commissioned on April 11, 1944, with the hull number ARB-4 and served in the US Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on August 30, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 260 people on board and had its main missions in San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, San Pedro, and Alaska. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on June 1, 1973, and sold to Snopac Products where it was renamed Snopac Innovator and was used for commercial purposes. Asbestos’ heat resistance and fireproofing capabilities made it an ideal material for use in the shipbuilding industry until it was phased out in the 1970s. A considerable number of Navy veterans have been exposed to asbestos and many may not even know how. Those who served on the USS Zeus (ARB-4) or participated in the ship’s repair and overhaul should monitor their health carefully.
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