Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
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[1]Shipscribe (Stephen S. Roberts), 'USS Mark (AKL 12) and USNS AKL 15 (FS Design 427/330) Class' - class notes, construction and disposition tables compiled from Naval Vessel Register and SECNAV/CNO correspondence; corroborated by Tim Colton's Shipbuilding History Higgins Industries and US Army Coastal Freighters build tables [other_primary]
- Locator
- AKL 12/AKL 15 class page, Construction table row 43 + Class Notes + Ship Notes AKL 43; http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/higgins.htm ; https://shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net/us-navy-small/armyfreighters/
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- This hull was built as U.S. Army FS-219, a Design 427 'Vessel, Supply, Aircraft Repair, Diesel, Steel, 180 ft,' at Higgins Industries, New Orleans, under the Army contract of 11 Jan 1943 covering FS 204-221 (Design 427); construction ran Oct 1944-Jan 1945 (573-575 tons, 180 ft, steel). Design 427 ships were Project IVORY SOAP vessels with the well deck covered to provide shop space for aircraft repair by an embarked Aircraft Maintenance Unit (Floating); all were named for colonels - FS-219 was Col. Edgar R. Todd - and carried Cleveland diesels.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1943-1945
- Population
- Higgins Industries construction trades (New Orleans, Oct 1944-Jan 1945)
- Limitations
- Shipscribe is a researcher's careful transcription of official records (NVR, correspondence), not the primary document itself; construction dates corroborated by Shipbuilding History tables. Establishes identity, builder, design type, and wartime construction window - contains no asbestos or materials statement.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-01
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[2]Shipscribe (Stephen S. Roberts), AKL 12/AKL 15 class page, Class Notes (SECNAV/CNO/Army correspondence chronology) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Class Notes paragraph on FS 219; Construction table row 43 (Acq 1 Jan 1962)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- On 11 Dec 1961 the Army Transportation Corps at Charleston, S.C. transferred temporary custody of FS-219 to the MSTS representative at Southport, N.C.; on 18 Dec 1961 SECNAV asked the Secretary of the Army for permanent custody; the Army approved 10 Jan 1962; on 25 Jan 1962 SECNAV approved CNO's request to instate FS-219 in the Naval Vessel Register as AKL-43 effective 1 Jan 1962. The vessel served MSTS as USNS T-AKL-43 - never commissioned, never named.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1961-1963
- Population
- MSTS civil-service crew, Jan 1962-1963
- Limitations
- Documented custody chronology from official correspondence as transcribed by shipscribe; corrects secondary sources that show a 1950 Navy acquisition (see correction row). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-02
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[3]Shipscribe, AKL 12/AKL 15 class page, Ship Notes AKL 43 + Disposition table row 43; James T. Flynn, 'U.S. Coast Guard W Numbers' (USCG CG-09224, 4/2/2014; originally published in The Belgian Shiplover), entry WAKL 43 [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship Notes row AKL 43; Flynn WAKL table entry 'WAKL 43 (unnamed) ex. USA FS-219'. media.defense.gov blocked direct fetch (HTTP 403); text verified via 2023 Wayback capture of the same file
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- On 24 Jun 1963 CNO asked MSTS to release AKL-43 to CNO for conversion and use as a commissioned ship in the Pacific Fleet for miscellaneous services, with MSTS retaining custody pending assignment to an overhaul activity; custody, presumably for the overhaul, was accepted by the USCG yard at Curtis Bay on 29 Jun 1963. The USCG Historian's Office 'W' numbers compilation records 'WAKL 43 (unnamed) ex. USA FS-219' - a Coast Guard designation assigned for the planned conversion. The plan was aborted: on 4 Oct 1963 SECNAV returned the ship to the Army, and she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 7 Oct 1963.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1963
- Population
- USCG Yard Curtis Bay workmen (Jun-Oct 1963), if work commenced
- Limitations
- Documents a shipyard custody event (USCG Yard, Curtis Bay, Jun-Oct 1963) for a conversion that was aborted - any asbestos disturbance scope is inference, not documented; the work package is the archival lead. No asbestos or materials statement in either source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-03
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[4]Shipscribe, Ship Notes AKL 43 (ABS and MARAD actions); DTIC technical-report citations AD0860135 (Area ST, Vol. 3, R/V Santa Maria + R/V Ruth Ann, 24 May-4 Sep 1967) and AD0852008 (Area 12, Vol. 6, 5 Jul-19 Sep 1968), Alpine Geophysical Associates Inc., Norwood NJ; DTIC AD0860140 abstract describing the NAVOCEANO Deep Ocean Survey Project and its contractor-run Marine Geophysical Survey task [other_primary]
- Locator
- Shipscribe Ship Notes AKL 43; DTIC catalog pages AD0860135, AD0852008, AD0860140 (abstracts; apps.dtic.mil returns HTTP 403 to automated fetch - catalog metadata used)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Post-Navy ownership chain per ABS/MARAD actions transcribed by shipscribe: the American Bureau of Shipping reported the ship owned by Luckenbach Steamship Co. as of 29 Jan 1964 (manuscript notes suggest a first mercantile name DONNA and use by divers); MARAD approved her sale by Luckenbach to Libernick Shipping Co. and transfer to Nicaraguan registry/flag on 4 Feb 1964; ABS recorded owner Libernick 28 Apr 1964 and rename to SANTA MARIA as of 15 Sep 1964. DTIC catalogs Alpine Geophysical Associates (Norwood, N.J.) technical reports documenting R/V SANTA MARIA (with R/V RUTH ANN) conducting Marine Geophysical Survey (MGS) Program 65-67 cruises in the western North Pacific and South China Sea, May-Sep 1967 and Jul-Sep 1968 - the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office's Deep Ocean Survey Project, in which contractor-operated survey ships collected geophysical/oceanographic/acoustic data. Register deletion 1993; final fate unknown.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1963-1993
- Population
- R/V Santa Maria crew and survey personnel (1965-68), if hull identity holds
- Limitations
- ABS/MARAD ownership actions (1964) and the NAVOCEANO survey program are documented. The link that Alpine's R/V Santa Maria is this hull rests on secondary compilations (NavSource; Miramar-derived data behind shipscribe) - timing (renamed Sep 1964; surveys 1965-68) and operator detail are consistent but no official registry record confirming hull identity was located. 'Donna' is a manuscript note, unverified. No asbestos or materials content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-04
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[5]C. G. Willis, Inc. v. United States, 202 F. Supp. 67 (E.D. Va., opinion filed 1961-12-13), Hoffman, C.J.; CourtListener cluster 8752074 [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion text (202 F. Supp. 67-70); interlocutory decree 3 Jan 1961 cited within; libel filed 28 Nov 1956
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- C. G. Willis, Inc. v. United States, 202 F. Supp. 67 (E.D. Va. 1961) - 'owner of the Barge KAY and the Tug WILLISTON, Libellant v. United States of America, owner of THE FS-219, in personam.' By interlocutory decree of 3 Jan 1961 the court held the United States (as owner of FS-219) liable for damages from a collision occurring 4 Apr 1956; the published opinion resolves a damages-phase dispute (cargo-loss amendment, survey fees, interest under the Public Vessels Act / Suits in Admiralty Act). Classification: other litigation - admiralty collision, NOT asbestos. The record establishes FS-219 as a U.S. government-owned public vessel in operation in 1956.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1956-1961
- Population
- FS-219 Army/contract crew; tug WILLISTON and barge KAY crews (collision parties)
- Limitations
- Admiralty collision litigation only - contains no asbestos, materials, or exposure content. Establishes government ownership/operation of FS-219 in Apr 1956 (consistent with the documented Army custody chain and inconsistent with a circa-1960 commercial sale). The liability-phase decree (3 Jan 1961) was not located as a separate published opinion.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-05
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[6]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); shipscribe Design 427 design notes (vessel type and machinery) [other_primary]
- Locator
- AJIM 11(3):359-373 (WWII shipbuilding asbestos use); shipscribe class notes (Design 427 spec dated 16 Oct 1944)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/class inference only: FS-219 was built Oct 1944-Jan 1945 at a U.S. Gulf Coast yard to Army Design 427 - peak-era wartime construction in which asbestos was used extensively for fireproofing and insulation in U.S. shipbuilding. For a small steel diesel freighter/aircraft-repair vessel of this design, era-typical asbestos applications were: thermal insulation on engine exhaust piping and machinery; gaskets and packing in piping, pumps, and machinery; electrical wiring insulation; interior joiner/bulkhead board (period marine board such as Marinite commonly contained asbestos); brake linings on winches and windlass. With diesel propulsion and no boilers or steam system, the era-typical inventory is materially smaller than on steam-driven hulls.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1963 service window
- Population
- Higgins construction trades (1944-45); Army crews (1945-61); MSTS civil-service crew (1962-63); Curtis Bay yard workmen (1963); commercial/research crews (1964-93)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level documentation - does not name this hull and does not establish that asbestos was installed aboard FS-219, where, how much, or whether any survives. No 'typical of the class' application is asserted as installed on this hull. Does not establish exposure or causation for any individual.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-06
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[7]Batch-1109 search ledger (this record): shipscribe; NavSource; Shipbuilding History; NHHC/DANFS; CourtListener API v4 (opinions + RECAP); DTIC; USCG historian W-numbers list; MARAD ShipHistory [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-akl-43-akl43-01 through sl-uss-akl-43-akl43-12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or asbestos-litigation docket naming FS-219, Col. Edgar R. Todd, AKL-43/T-AKL-43, or the subsequent Santa Maria was found in the public sources searched. No DANFS/NHHC history exists for this hull. CourtListener searches (opinions and RECAP dockets) returned one non-asbestos admiralty case naming the hull and otherwise only name collisions (see search_ledger).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 2026-09-22
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944-45-built hull is era-consistent with installed asbestos-containing materials, and nothing located documents removal. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-07
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[8]Shipscribe custody chronology (primary-record transcription) vs. NavSource AKL-43 page and Shipbuilding History tables (secondary compilations); USCG Flynn W-numbers list (WAKL 43) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource USNS T-AKL-43 page (1950 acquisition, Bahamas Star Line claims); shipscribe AKL 12/15 class page Class Notes + Ship Notes
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Corrections to secondary-source record: (a) Acquisition date - NavSource, Shipbuilding History, and derivative compilations state the Navy acquired FS-219 '1 July 1950'/'to USN 1950'; the documented custody chain is temporary custody to MSTS at Southport, N.C. on 11 Dec 1961, Army approval of permanent transfer 10 Jan 1962, and SECNAV-approved NVR instatement as AKL-43 effective 1 Jan 1962. The 1950 date is the generic MSTS transfer date applied to other ex-FS hulls (AKL-18/19/20), not this one. (b) Prefix - listings styled 'USS AKL-43' are incorrect: the vessel was never commissioned and never named; the correct style is USNS T-AKL-43 (civilian-manned MSTS). (c) NavSource's 'sold to Bahamas Star Line circa 1960' (Bay of Pigs command/communications/medical support) is uncorroborated by any authoritative source and conflicts with documented Army custody through 4 Oct 1963; it is excluded from asserted facts and carried in gaps.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1950-1963 (dates corrected)
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies in secondary compilations against the transcribed official custody chain; the Bay of Pigs/Bahamas Star Line claim remains an unverified secondary assertion and is not adopted. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-08
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[9]NARA Guide to Federal Records - RG 336 (Office of the Chief of Transportation); DTIC catalog (blocked full texts); Miramar Ship Index (shipscribe's cited registry source) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA RG 336 finding-aid page; apps.dtic.mil catalog entries AD0852008, AD0860140; miramarshipindex.nz
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction work; no spend authorized): NARA RG 336 (Records of the Office of the Chief of Transportation / Army Transportation Corps) vessel files for FS-219 would document Army-era operation 1945-61; MSTS ship files would document T-AKL-43 employment Jan 1962-1963; the 1963 USCG Yard Curtis Bay work package (if executed records survive) would document the aborted conversion scope - the asbestos-relevant event; DTIC full texts for AD0852008/AD0860140 are fetch-blocked (HTTP 403) and retrievable via DTIC request channels; Miramar Ship Index holds the registry-level identity chain for Libernick's Santa Maria.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-22
- Study period
- 1944-1993 records
- Limitations
- Record-group and repository mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-akl-43-akl43-09