Evidence
12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).
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[1]research packet av-packet.md (5 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- usns-neptune-arc2-pkt-av-packet-md
-
[2]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (NHHC), Neptune IV (ARC-2) entry; live NHHC URL returns 404 - text captured via Wayback Machine 2025-06-10 snapshot (entry published 2015-08-12) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS Neptune IV (ARC-2) entry, full text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS stat block: ARC-2, dp. 4,410; l. 362'; b. 47'; dr. 25'; s. 13 k.; cpl. 150; cl. Neptune; T. S3-S2-BP1. Built for the Maritime Commission by Pusey and Jones Corp., Wilmington, Del.; completed February 1946; launched as SS William H. G. Bullard, MC hull 2557. Acquired by the Navy in 1953 and converted at Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipyard, Key Highway Plant, Baltimore, Md. - electric cable machinery in place of steam, precision navigational instrumentation, helicopter platform over the fantail. Commissioned 1 June 1953, Comdr. Robert A. Bogardus in command. First cable-laying evolution 8 July 1953; initial focus of project 'Caesar' under Commander Service Force, Atlantic; homeported Norfolk; involved in more than fifty cable laying and repair projects; Pacific deployments 1954, 1957, 1960, 1964; homeport to Portsmouth, N.H. July 1965; overhaul at Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipyard, Boston December 1965-March 1966; homeport to San Francisco 1 January 1967, arrived 20 March 1967.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-1967 (entry coverage)
- Population
- Ship's company, USS Neptune (1953-1973)
- Limitations
- Official Navy history text, verbatim via Wayback capture (live page 404 as of access date - NHHC link rot consistent with Batch-01 note). Contains no asbestos information. DANFS complement figure (150) differs from NavSource (155) and Shipscribe accommodation figure (28 officers + 145 enlisted); discrepancy carried in complement and gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-01
-
[3]NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive, USNS Neptune (T-ARC-2) / USS Neptune (ARC-2) / USACS William H. G. Bullard page (chronology, specifications, awards, commanding officers) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 09/27/2702 page - chronology, specifications block, awards, CO table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource chronology: laid down (date unknown) as SS William H. G. Bullard, Maritime Commission type S3-S2-BP1 for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, MC hull 2557, Pusey and Jones Corp., Wilmington DE; delivered February 1946; acquired by the Navy 1953; converted at Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipyard, Key Highway Plant, Baltimore MD; commissioned USS Neptune (ARC-2) 1 June 1953, CDR Robert A. Bogardus; decommissioned 1973 and placed in service as USNS Neptune (T-ARC-2); placed out of service 1 January 1991; struck from the Naval Register 20 August 1992; title transferred to MARAD 1 April 1998; laid up NDRF James River, Fort Eustis, VA; transferred 3 November 2005 to International Shipbreaking Ltd., Brownsville, TX for scrapping. Specifications: 4,410 t, 362', 47', 25', 13 kts, complement 155, no armament, two Skinner Uniflow reciprocating steam engines replaced with diesel engines, twin shafts. Awards listed: Navy Battle 'E' Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Companion NavSource service summary (PDF 2702a, R. Tyrrell 2011): USACS Bullard 1946-53 / USS Neptune (ARC-2) 01 Jun 1953-1973 / USNS Neptune (T-ARC-2) 1973-01 Jan 1991; Navy E Ribbon 01 Oct 1987-30 Sep 1988; National Defense Service awards 1953-27 Jul 1954 and 01 Jan 1961-1973 (USS), 1973-14 Aug 1974 and 02 Aug 1990-01 Jan 1991 (USNS).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-2005
- Population
- Ship's company and embarked civilian cable/survey specialists, 1953-1991
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation, not an official record; its chronology is ship-specific and corroborates DANFS and MARAD milestones. Its statement that Bullard was 'commissioned US Army Cable Laying Ship' conflicts with the MARAD status card and Shipscribe, which show the completed ship placed directly into the Maritime Commission reserve fleet at Lee Hall 2 March 1946 - flagged in gaps. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-02
-
[4]Shipscribe (Stephen S. Roberts), NEPTUNE (ARC-2, S3-S2-BP1) class page - BuShips/Maritime Commission construction and disposition tables with per-hull rows and class notes (compiled 19 Oct 2021) [other_primary]
- Locator
- ARC02.html - construction/disposition tables, class notes, ship notes row ARC-2
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Per-hull row for ARC-2 NEPTUNE (MC 2557): acquired by Navy 17 Feb 1953, Pusey & Jones Wilmington, keel 22 Jan 1945, launched 22 Aug 1945, commissioned 1 Jun 1953. Disposition: inactivated 21 Oct 1991, stricken 20 Aug 1992, MA custody/disposal 1 Apr 1998, departed 3 Nov 2005 for disposal. Class notes: both ships built by the Maritime Commission for the Army Signal Corps; Sundfelt steam-powered cable machinery, four cable tanks totaling 49,642 cu ft; Bullard completed 26 Feb 1946 and placed in the MC reserve fleet at Lee Hall, Va. 2 Mar 1946 until transferred to the Navy and renamed NEPTUNE 17 Feb 1953; ARC-2 classification assigned by SecNav Notice 5030 of 27 Mar 1953; refitted at Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipyard, Baltimore for Project Caesar (SOSUS installation phase) - triple 15-ft bow sheaves, two new GE electrically-driven 15-ft cable drums replacing the original machinery, one cable tank converted to auxiliary machinery room; decommissioned and transferred to MSC 8 November 1973. Neptune modernized at General Dynamics, Quincy, Mass., February 1980-February 1982: reciprocating steam propulsion plants (the last ones in the Navy) replaced with diesels and superstructures rebuilt. Sister ship ALBERT J MYER (ARC-6, MC 2558) scrapped by the same contractor; both scrapped by ISL Brownsville in 2005-2006.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-2006
- Population
- Construction trades (Pusey & Jones, 1945-46); conversion yard workers (Bethlehem Baltimore 1953); overhaul workers (Bethlehem Boston 1965-66); reconstruction workers (GD Quincy 1980-82); ship's company (1953-91)
- Limitations
- Shipscribe reproduces official BuShips/MC/NavSea tabular data but is a private compilation (compiler S. Roberts cites Haigh, Cableships and Submarine Cables, 1968). Inactivation 21 Oct 1991 vs NavSource out-of-service 1 Jan 1991 - both carried. Re-engining described here as diesel (diesel-electric machinery 1980-82); Wikipedia infobox says 'turbo-electric' - flagged in gaps. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-03
-
[5]MARAD Vessel History Database, NEPTUNE (ARC-2), record ID 3580 - characteristics, milestones, and three digitized vessel status cards (read as images) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov Detail/3580 - milestone table; status card images /cards/3580_RS10429AF.jpg, /cards/e8465f6b..., /cards/d0ba091e...
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD record: NEPTUNE (ARC-2), year built 1946, Pusey and Jones Corporation, Naval Auxiliary / ARC Cable Repairing Ship, 370 ft x 47 ft, 3,913 gross / 1,788 net tons, fate 'Transferred - U.S. Govt.' Vessel name history: William H. G. Bullard 1946-1953; Neptune (ARC-2) 1953-2005. Milestones: Entry 24 Sep 1991; Interim Movement 1 Apr 1998 (title transfer to MARAD); Disposal Contract Award 18 Jul 2005 to ISL of Brownsville, TX; Departure 3 Nov 2005 for Brownsville under scrapping contract; Destruction via scrapping 13 Apr 2006 by ISL Brownsville; Withdrawal 13 Apr 2006. Digitized status cards: (1) Vessel Status Card for WILLIAM H.G. BULLARD, type S3-S2-BP1 cable ship, MC hull 2557, 'Built by Pusey & Jones at Wilmington, Del. Completed 2-26-46,' basis to WSA 2-26-46, delivered USMC Reserve Fleet Lee Hall, Va. 3-2-46, withdrawn 2-17-53 to NAVY DEPARTMENT custody at James River, 'RENAMED: NEPTUNE 2/17/53'; (2) Reserve Fleet - Ship Particulars card (Form MA-383): NEPTUNE, TARC-2, James River fleet, category 'Non-Retention,' entered 9/24/91, withdrawn 12/6/94 with reason 'Going to NISMF for stripping.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1946-2006
- Population
- NDRF James River custodial workforce (1991-2005); NISMF stripping workforce (1994); ISL Brownsville shipbreaking workforce (2005-06)
- Limitations
- Official MARAD custody record; status cards read from page images (OCR-aided). Cards carry no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; the 1994 NISMF stripping event is documented as a movement only - its scope is not stated. 'Withdrawn 12/6/94' on the card conflicts with the ship's continued NDRF presence until 2005 (return to fleet after stripping is implied by the milestone table but not documented on these cards).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-04
-
[6]Hazegray (Andrew Toppan), Fore River Shipyard Production Record, Part 3: General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division (1963-1986) - captured via Wayback; live hazegray.org unreachable [other_primary]
- Locator
- fore3.htm table, Neptune (T-ARC 2) row
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Fore River/General Dynamics Quincy production list entry: 'Neptune (T-ARC 2), Neptune Class Cable Ship, US Navy, Reconstruction, delivered 8 Oct 1982; Stricken 1992.' Confirms the ship's reconstruction at the Quincy yard (former Fore River site under General Dynamics) and provides a delivery date.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1980-1982
- Population
- General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division workforce (1980-82 reconstruction)
- Limitations
- Compiled production list, not an official record; the 8 Oct 1982 delivery date sits against Shipscribe's 'February 1980-February 1982' modernization span - the discrepancy (contract window vs redelivery date, or a different completion point) is carried in gaps. No asbestos content; documents the yard event only.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-05
-
[7]Commander, Undersea Surveillance (U.S. Navy, csp.navy.mil), 'Origins of SOSUS' - official IUSS/SOSUS history page; live page returned 403 to automated fetch, text captured via Wayback Machine 2025-01-20 snapshot [other_primary]
- Locator
- 'Origins of SOSUS' page, Project Caesar implementation paragraph
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official Navy SOSUS history names this hull in the Project Caesar program: 'The Maritime Administration released the cable ship Bullard to the Navy, who rechristened her the Neptune. New cable drums 15 feet in diameter and bow sheaves 12 feet across were installed, the largest in existence. The Albert J. Meyer [sic] was added to the fleet.' The page documents the 1952-54 SOSUS installation program (six stations directed June 1952, expanded to nine; Simplex Cable expansion; Hydrographic Office survey group) that this ship was converted to support.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1952-1954
- Population
- Ship's company and civilian cable specialists during Caesar installation phase (1953-54)
- Limitations
- Official .mil program history; names the ship in its program role. Contains no asbestos, materials, or crew-exposure information; supports the ship's Project Caesar role only. (Page spells sister ship 'Meyer'; correct spelling Albert J. Myer per shipscribe/MARAD.)
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-06
-
[8]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) - applied to this hull's documented 1945-46 Maritime Commission construction and steam plant [other_primary]
- Locator
- AJIM 11(3):359-373; propulsion basis from ev-02/ev-03 (Skinner Uniflow plant)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/design inference: a Maritime Commission S3-S2-BP1 hull completed February 1946 with twin Skinner Uniflow reciprocating steam engines and steam-powered cable machinery - the equipment class in which wartime boiler insulation, steam-line lagging, valve and flange gaskets, machinery packing, and accommodation insulation commonly contained asbestos. Peer-reviewed historical study documents that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII, the era and program under which this hull was built.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 1945-2006
- Population
- Construction trades at Pusey & Jones (1945-46); conversion/overhaul/reconstruction yard workers (1953, 1965-66, 1980-82); ship's company and MSC civil service crew (1953-91); NDRF/NISMF stripping and ISL shipbreaking workers
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no ship-level asbestos record located for this hull or its S3-S2-BP1 class (only two ships of the type existed). The 1980-82 reconstruction removed the reciprocating steam plant entirely; whether asbestos-containing insulation survived in accommodation, wiring, or joiner spaces after that rebuild is undocumented. Establishes no quantities, no specific product presence aboard this hull, and no exposure for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-07
-
[9]GAO, Maritime Administration: Improved Program Management Needed to Address Timely Disposal of Obsolete Ships, GAO-05-264 (February 2005) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO-05-264 highlights and report body (asbestos/hazmat passages)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- GAO documents that the >100 obsolete NDRF ships awaiting disposal 'contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and residual oils and fuels that are typically found on older ships,' that Congress set a 30 September 2006 disposal deadline, and that MARAD must coordinate with EPA and states to ensure hazardous materials are removed in compliance with environmental and worker-safety laws. Neptune was part of this population: MARAD status card lists her category as 'Non-Retention' in the James River fleet, and her ISL disposal contract was awarded 18 Jul 2005 within this program.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2005 (report); applied to this hull 2005-2006
- Population
- Shipbreaking workers and regulators in the MARAD disposal program (2005-06)
- Limitations
- Program-level finding - GAO does not name this hull and does not establish that asbestos was aboard her, in what quantity, or in what condition. It characterizes the disposal population and the regulatory regime applied to her 2005-06 scrapping.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-08
-
[10]OSHA, National Emphasis Program on Shipbreaking, CPL 02-00-136 (interagency MOA with DOD/Navy, DLA-DRMS, DOT/MARAD, and EPA); OSHA publication 3375 'Safe Work Practices for Shipbreaking' [other_primary]
- Locator
- osha.gov CPL 02-00-136 directive text; OSHA 3375 shipbreaking publication
- Finding type
- regulatory
- Finding
- OSHA's shipbreaking NEP implements an interagency MOA covering Navy and MARAD ship scrapping and requires that each MARAD vessel undergoing shipbreaking receive a programmed comprehensive inspection annually; OSHA guidance names asbestos exposure among the primary shipbreaking hazards. This regime governed the 2005-06 ISL Brownsville scrapping of this hull under MARAD contract.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2005-2006
- Population
- ISL Brownsville shipbreaking workforce (2005-06)
- Limitations
- Regulatory context only - establishes the inspection regime applicable to the scrapping event, not that asbestos was found aboard this hull. No ISL inspection report for this vessel was located in public sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-09
-
[11]CourtListener API v4 searches via authenticated fleet helper (cl-auth-search.py) [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-usns-neptune-arc2-08/-09b (hits, collisions) / -09 (blocked)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion searches executed 2026-09-26: '"Neptune" "ARC-2"' returned 2 hits, both name collisions - State of Alabama v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opinions (11th Cir. 2005-09-19, opinions 77102 and 792067), where 'ARC' is the Atlanta Regional Commission in the tri-state water litigation, not the hull designation; '"William H. G. Bullard"' returned 1 hit, a name collision - Bullard ex rel. Bullard v. United States (Court of Claims, 1928-10-15), a person Bullard, not the ship. No executed query names the ship, an asbestos claim, or maritime parties. Remaining queries ('USS Neptune', 'USNS Neptune', 'T-ARC-2', RECAP docket index) could not be executed - the fleet-wide authenticated pacing budget was exhausted through most of the session (helper exit 2 on spaced attempts). See search_ledger rows sl-usns-neptune-arc2-08/09/09b.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Partial sweep: two executed queries (collisions only) plus blocked queries - no absence-of-litigation claim is made. A name-match search cannot prove no filing exists: pleadings that omit the hull name or index only a party name would not surface. 'Neptune' is a high-collision term (other Navy Neptunes, P2V/P-3 aircraft, Operation Neptune, mythology) that would require careful classification even when coverage is complete.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-10
-
[12]Batch-2545 search ledger (this record): DANFS/NHHC (Wayback), NavSource, Shipscribe, MARAD Vessel History Database incl. status-card scans, Hazegray production record, GAO, OSHA, VA Public Health/BVA, general web sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-usns-neptune-arc2-01 through -13
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated claim naming USS Neptune (ARC-2) / USNS Neptune (T-ARC-2) / William H. G. Bullard was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The MARAD status cards (read as images) carry no materials or hazmat notations. No name-bearing asbestos content was located beyond generic 'Navy ships' marketing list pages, excluded as non-authoritative.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Study period
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1945-46 steam plant of this type is era-consistent with asbestos insulation, and the 1980-82 reconstruction almost certainly disturbed insulation wherever it remained (scope undocumented). Does not establish or defeat any individual exposure or eligibility claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-neptune-arc2-11