New reports about Freewinds, the Scientology-owned cruise ship, suggest more people than previously recorded may have been exposed to crocidolite asbestos over the last few years. Crocidolite asbestos is one of the most toxic forms of asbestos, and is known to cause several types of asbestos cancer.

Initial reports of asbestos problems surfaced in April. However, a recent statement from the vessel’s captain has indicated there may have been previous incidents where asbestos was released through the ship’s onboard ventilation system.

After being quarantined on April 26 at Mathey Warf in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Curacao Drydock Company was hired to perform refurbishment and repairs, but quickly ceased work due to the risk of asbestos exposure.

Several officials—including head of the Department of Labor Affairs, Christiene van der Biezen, and local health department head, Tico Ras—inspected the ship and found significant amounts of asbestos in paneling. Subsequently, the Executive Council held a meeting and decided that informing the public would be the best way to avoid rumors and other problems.

According to other news reports, allegations about asbestos aboard the ship were made at least seven years ago. Lawrence Woodcraft, an architect and former Scientologist, claimed to have filed an affidavit affirming he encountered asbestos on the ship in 1987—more than twenty years ago—and informed Scientology leaders.

After the Curacao Drydock Company withdrew its workers, a team from the United States arrived to clean up the Scientology cruise ship. The arrival of the cleanup team was reported by Amigoe, the longest-running daily news publication in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. The team was supposedly comprised of members of Scientology’s own paramilitary organization, the “Sea Org.”

Evidently, the asbestos problems for the Freewinds and its Scientologist owners are not yet over. A new report indicates that even before the ship was quarantined in Curacao back in April, the organization hired the company Nordica Engineering to gut and refurbish its interior.

One news report from International.org claims Scientologist representatives lied to Nordica Engineering about the amount of asbestos on board, and that Nordica workers who occupied the ship are now in danger of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

In addition, the Scientology organization has failed to pay Nordica the $3.5 million it owes for the work that was completed.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am and is filed under Asbestos Exposure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.