USS Sanctuary (AH-17)

The USS Sanctuary (AH-17) was the last of the United States Navy’s Haven-class hospital ships still in service, working with the Navy from 1945 until 1975. The ship was built in 1944 by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania and commissioned on June 20, 1945. Shortly after her commissioning ceremony, the Sanctuary departed for a shakedown cruise in the Atlantic, after which she was assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

World War II Service and Overhaul

Just days after arriving in the Pacific, the Japanese surrendered and brought an end to World War II. Following the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific, the Sanctuary sailed to Wakayam, Japan where she began loading Allied ex-POWs for transport back to American bases in the Pacific. The Sanctuary made several similar trips between Japan and American bases on Guam and Naha before eventually being ordered back to the United States. In early 1947, the Sanctuary arrived in Philadelphia where she began to prepare for decommissioning.

The Sanctuary’s pre-inactivation overhaul lasted several months, during which time she was stripped of nonessential equipment and had her hatches and navigational equipment secured. The extensive overhaul inevitably resulted in a release of asbestos from within the ship’s hull, potentially exposing hundreds of shipyard workers to the toxic asbestos fibers. When her overhaul was finally completed, the Sanctuary was decommissioned and on August 15, 1947, placed into the Navy’s Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Vietnam War Service

The USS Sanctuary spent nearly 15 years in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet before the outbreak of the Vietnam War, which prompted the Navy to activate a large number of reserve vessels. The Sanctuary was brought to the Avondale Shipyards in Westwego, Louisiana and began a long modernization and upgrade period. During this upgrade, the ship was outfitted with a cutting-edge hospital unit, as well as structural modifications that included a helicopter landing pad.

During the extensive metalwork required for the structural modifications, work crews may have released large quantities of asbestos fibers into the air and those nearby were at risk of inhaling the toxic substance. When the Sanctuary’s crew returned in early 1967, they too may have been exposed to the lingering asbestos fibers.

On March 8, 1967, the USS Sanctuary rejoined the Pacific Fleet after a 20-year absence. She steamed almost directly for Vietnam where she was immediately pressed into service, treating American troops in the region. The Sanctuary participated in increasingly long and stressful deployments in Vietnam, treating thousands of servicemen during her time in Southeast Asia.

The Sanctuary remained in Vietnam until 1971, earning a total of 12 campaign stars for her service. In mid-1971, with her last Vietnam deployment behind her, the USS Sanctuary sailed for San Francisco Bay where she was decommissioned on December 15. Currently, the USS Sanctuary sits in Baltimore Harbor, where the presence of asbestos and other toxic materials are preventing her sale to another party.

Asbestos Risks

Asbestos was often used on ships such as the USS Sanctuary in order to insulate and fireproof materials onboard. Unfortunately, using asbestos has caused thousands of past shipyard workers and crew members to develop asbestos-related diseases from being exposed to asbestos. Boiler rooms and engine rooms were two of the most common areas for asbestos exposure. In addition to these locations, pipes, walls and ceilings insulated with asbestos often exposed crew members as well.

Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several serious illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The latter is especially harmful due to the latency period for symptoms to arrive. In most cases, symptoms of mesothelioma can take as long as 20 to 50 years to develop, leaving patients completely unaware of their condition. By the time the majority of patients are diagnosed, the cancer has often reached the advanced stages of development.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs, lost income and any other expenses. For more information about compensation and treatment options, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet.

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Auxiliary Vessels Index