Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
-
[1]U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Mirrored excerpt, engine-cylinder insulation section
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The U.S. Maritime Commission instruction manual for the EC2-S-C1 plant - the MARAD-designated type of this hull (MCE hull 1725; status card 'Cargo EC-2', reserve-fleet card 'Mil. Aux. / EC2') - describes cylinder insulation of magnesia under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Liberty-type hulls were built to emergency USMC specifications during the period when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943
- Population
- Construction trades (Permanente Metals Corp. Yard No. 2 / Kaiser Richmond, 1943); WSA/Sudden & Christenson merchant crew (Aug-Oct 1943); Navy engine-room crew
- Limitations
- Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual names the EC2-S-C1 type, not this vessel, and does not itself state 'asbestos' content (magnesia lagging of the era was typically asbestos-fiber-reinforced, but the manual text is silent on fiber). Asbestos presence aboard this hull is era inference, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, present-day presence, individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-01
-
[2]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) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Abstract and article, AJIM 11(3):359-373
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- 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 emergency program under which this EC2-S-C1 hull was mass-produced - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1940s era documented; article 1987
- Population
- WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel or the EC2-S-C1 type and does not establish that asbestos was or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-02
-
[3]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, online edition - 'Azimech (AK-124)' entry (updated R. J. Cressman, published 2020-07-29; canonical NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-20 - text verified via Internet Archive Wayback capture of the canonical page dated 2024-12-09) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC DANFS 'Azimech (AK-124)' full entry via Wayback capture 2024-12-09; canonical https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/azimech.html returned 404 (standing NHHC link rot, same as batches 01 and 808)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (NHHC online edition, updated by Robert J. Cressman, published 2020-07-29) records: Mary Patten was laid down 1943-07-21 under a Maritime Commission contract (M.C.E. Hull 1725) at Richmond, Calif., by Permanente Metals Corp.; launched 1943-08-11 (sponsor Mrs. Otis A. Kent); delivered to Sudden & Christenson, Inc., under a general agency agreement; acquired by the Navy 1943-10-07; renamed Azimech and designated AK-124 on 1943-10-11; converted for naval service at Oakland by Moore Drydock Co.; commissioned 1943-10-29, Lt. Cmdr. E. P. Gaither in command. Operations: departed 1943-11-11 for Hawaii; Service Squadron 8 at Pearl Harbor; Pearl Harbor Navy Yard overhaul of main engines and boilers - 16 days on keelblocks; sailed 12-28 for the Gilberts; Tarawa 1944-01-08 (unloading hampered by enemy air attacks and lagoon reefs - high tide only), Makin and Apamama stops; San Pedro 03-06; Terminal Island availability 03-10 to 04-09; loaded at Oakland; sailed 04-26. Majuro 05-18, Service Squadron 10, issuing stores in the lagoon until 06-03; Eniwetok until 08-24; San Francisco 09-13 reload with minor repairs and alterations; departed 09-26; Ulithi 11-02 to 11-16; with minesweeper Compel (AM-162) to Kossol Roads, issuing supplies; departed 12-05. Puget Sound Navy Yard repairs 1945-01-16 to 02-15; Eniwetok 03-11; Ryukyus: Kerama Retto 04-18 to 04-29, then Hagushi beach, Okinawa, to 05-07; Guam load 05-24 to 06-08; anchored Ulithi 06-10 through war's end. Departed 08-23 for San Pedro (09-15); Panama Canal transit 10-25; Hampton Roads 11-03, deactivation preparations; Baltimore 11-21 final yard period; decommissioned 12-11; stricken 1946-01-03; resumed name Mary Patten, entered WSA Reserve Fleet Lee Hall, Va. 1945-12-14 4:00 PM; purchased by Isaac Varela 1972-09-12 for scrapping in Spain; physically delivered 1972-12-08 10:00 AM. One battle star (Okinawa Gunto, 1945-04-18 to 05-19).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-1972
- Population
- Navy crew (cpl. 214 per DANFS); shipyard workers at documented availabilities
- Limitations
- Authoritative for identity, chronology, and operations. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement - the Moore Dry Dock conversion, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard engine/boiler overhaul, Terminal Island availability, San Francisco repairs, Puget Sound Navy Yard repairs, and Baltimore final yard period are documented as events only; their materials scope (incl. any asbestos disturbance or installation) is not described. DANFS does not name the decommissioning port; its sequence implies Baltimore, while NavSource states Norfolk - see correction row.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-03
-
[4]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - MARY PATTEN, Ship History Detail 3260 (vessel status card, reserve-fleet vessel-data card, Form MA-20 Record of Ship Sales, two USCG radio-sealing report scans) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 3260 status-card scans (4ST_01.png custody/construction card; 3260_6064AF.jpg reserve-fleet data card; 3260_6064AB.jpg machinery/tonnage card face; 3260_AF.jpg Form MA-20) and documents MaryPatten_3260_001.pdf / MaryPatten_3260_002.pdf (USCG radio-sealing reports); milestones table Entry/Acquisition 12/14/1945 'ex-AXIMECH', Disposition/Withdrawal 12/8/1972
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record for this hull (Detail 3260 'MARY PATTEN'): U.S. Official No. 244136; MARAD type EC2-S-C1; built 1943 by Permanente Metals Corporation; 7,176 gross / 4,380 net tons; DWT 10,500 on the Form MA-20 sale card and reserve-fleet card vs a handwritten '10,541' notation on the custody status card - variance noted, not merged; bale 499,573 cu ft, grain 562,608 cu ft; card speed notation 12.5 vs typed '11' on the reserve-fleet card - variance noted. Custody card: basis to W.S.A. 1943-08-22 4:30 PM PWT at Richmond, Calif. (marked 'Owned'); GAA allocation to Sudden & Christenson Inc. same date/time at Richmond; Navy Dept. bareboat at San Francisco 1943-10-07 6:00 PM PWT, annotated '(Renamed AZIMECH) (AK-124)'; WSA Reserve Fleet Lee Hall, Va. 1945-12-14 4:00 PM EST, annotated 'NOW: MARY PATTEN'; Mr. Isaac Varela '(for scrapping in Spain)' - purchase at James River 9-12-72; physical delivery 12-8-72 10:00 AM EST. Reserve-fleet card (James River unit 5): 'PERMANENTE #2' 1943, hull no. 1725, fuel oil on entry 1,495 bbls Bunker C, termination port last voyage NORFOLK, '2 WTB' (two water-tube boilers) and '2500 IHP' machinery notations, sale annotation 'Sold scrap under PD-X-946, 9-12-72 to Mr. Isaac Varela for $80,007.00.' Form MA-20 Record of Ship Sales: sale PD-X-946, awarded Mr. Isaac Varela 9-12-72, contract MA-6775, 'Lump Sum for 6 - $480,042.00', remarks 'Advertised under PD-X-895 - bid rejected' struck through with red-ink 'Withdrawal', 'Advertised under PD-X-946 dated 8-11-72, opened 9-7-72 - Dismantle Hull - Foregin [sic]'. The MARAD milestones table carries the typo 'ex-AXIMECH' for both 1945 and 1972 events. Two WWII-era U.S. Coast Guard Captain-of-the-Port radio-sealing reports for Mary Patten at San Francisco survive in the file (one dated Aug. 27, 'new ship', American flag) - documents of the brief Sudden & Christenson merchant window.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-1972
- Limitations
- Authoritative government custody record for this hull; status-card handwriting and sale annotations read directly from scans (OCR-aided on the two USCG report PDFs, which are typescript-carbon and partially legible). The '2 WTB' boiler notation is ship-specific but names no manufacturer and no insulation material. Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or condition-survey information - supports no asbestos claim. The 'Dismantle Hull - Foreign' term indicates overseas scrapping but names no yard; Castellon rests on the NavSource photo caption.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-04
-
[5]NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Azimech (AK-124) page (compiled reference incl. DANFS transcription, campaign/awards table, CO list, specifications, captioned NHHC/NARA-photo credits) [other_primary]
- Locator
- navsource.net/archives/09/13/130124.htm - full page incl. campaign table, specifications block, commanding-officer table, photo captions (Mare Island photo nos. 7026-43, 7028-43, 7440-7443-43, 7475-43; NARA RG-19-LCM via Shipscribe)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource Online (Service Ship Photo Archive, AK-124 page) records: laid down as SS Mary Patten (EC2-S-C1, MC hull 1725) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA; launched 1943-08-11; acquired by U.S. Navy 1943-10-07; converted at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland; commissioned 1943-10-29, LCDR Earl P. Gaither USNR (sole listed CO, to 1945-12-11). Campaign credit: Okinawa Gunto operation (assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 18 Apr-19 May 1945); ribbons American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1), WWII Victory Medal; one battle star. Decommissioned 1945-12-11 'at Norfolk, VA'; struck 1946-01-03; returned to Maritime Commission 1945-12-14 at NDRF James River Group, Lee Hall, VA, name reverted to SS Mary Patten; sold for scrapping 1972-09-12 to 'Isaac Verela' [sic] for scrapping in Spain, removed 12-08-72. Specs: 4,023 t (lt) / 14,550 t (fl); 441'6" x 56'11" x 27'7"; complement 15 officers + 190 enlisted; armament 1x5"/38 DP, 1x3"/50 DP, 2x40mm, 6x20mm; one Joshua-Hendy vertical triple-expansion engine, two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers (220 psi, 450 deg F), three recip-drive 20 kW 120 V DC + one turbo-drive 60 kW 120 V DC ship's-service generators, single screw, 2,500 shp, 12.5 kt trial; call sign NHDV. Photo captions: SS Mary Patten pre-conversion at Moore Drydock 1943-10-09 (Navy Yard Mare Island photos 7026-43/7028-43); post-conversion off San Francisco 1943-11-03 (photos 7440-7443, 7475-43); one caption notes Azimech was 'one of four ships of this class converted with an old 4"/50 gun aft'; NDRF photos show her laid up at James River c. June 1971 and departing for Castellon, Spain scrapping September 1972.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-1972
- Limitations
- NavSource is a privately compiled standard reference, not a government publication; its campaign table presumably derives from the CNO battle-stars list and its spec block from standard compilations - not independently corroborated here. Its decommissioning port (Norfolk) conflicts with the DANFS sequence implying Baltimore; its armament and propulsion attributions (Joshua-Hendy engine, Combustion Engineering boilers) are NavSource-only; the '4"/50 aft' caption conflicts with both the DANFS and NavSource spec-block fits - see correction row. No asbestos content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-05
-
[6]Ian Ridpath, Star Tales - constellation Virgo page (star-name history; documents Bode's 1801 'Azimech' label for Spica and the al-Simak derivation) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Star Tales Virgo entry, 'Spica and the stars of Virgo' section and sidebar note 'Johann Bode gave Spica the alternative name Azimech on his Uranographia atlas of 1801'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Namesake identification: DANFS records the namesake as 'a star in the constellation Spica' - internally garbled phrasing, since Spica is itself a star (Alpha Virginis, brightest star of the constellation Virgo), not a constellation. 'Azimech' is the alternative name Johann Bode applied to Spica on his Uranographia atlas of 1801, a corruption of the Arabic al-Simak (al-Simak al-a'zal, 'the unarmed Simak') - the documented historical alias under which the Navy's star-name convention produced this ship's name.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- Naming lineage 1801-1943; DANFS entry 2020
- Limitations
- Identifies the star the ship was named for and corrects the DANFS phrasing; the 1943 naming decision itself is documented only as 'a star in the constellation Spica' in DANFS. The modern IAU-approved proper name for Alpha Virginis is 'Spica' - 'Azimech' is a historical alias, not a current IAU name. No asbestos relevance.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-06
-
[7]Batch-814 search ledger (this record): DANFS (Wayback capture); MARAD ShipHistory Detail 3260 + card scans + USCG report PDFs; NavSource AK-124; HyperWar AK-124; NVR; CourtListener (blocked + Google-indexed check); web-wide litigation/name sweeps; NARA catalog; NavalCoverMuseum; shipbuildinghistory Kaiser Permanente No. 2 table; Ridpath Star Tales [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-azimech-ak124-01 through sl-uss-azimech-ak124-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming USS Azimech / SS Mary Patten was found in the public sources searched (see search_ledger). The hull was sold for foreign scrapping in 1972 - before the Navy's late-1970s asbestos-control programs, before NESHAP demolition rules, and outside U.S. jurisdiction at breakup - so no U.S.-regulated abatement record was ever expected to exist.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 2026-09-20
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1943 EC2-S-C1 hull with documented engine/boiler yard availabilities is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials aboard. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility. CourtListener direct sweep was rate-limited - residual litigation-discovery risk.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-07
-
[8]Cross-source reconciliation: DANFS online entry (Wayback capture); NavSource AK-124 page (chronology, spec block, CO table, photo captions); MARAD Detail 3260 cards (custody card, reserve-fleet card, MA-20 sale record); HyperWar Ships of the U.S. Navy 1940-1945 AK-124 generic class table; NavalCoverMuseum AZIMECH AK 124 page [other_primary]
- Locator
- DANFS entry text; navsource.net/archives/09/13/130124.htm spec block + captions; MARAD cards 4ST_01.png / 3260_6064AF.jpg / 3260_6064AB.jpg / 3260_AF.jpg; ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AK/AK-124_Azimech.html; navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/AZIMECH_AK_124
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies logged, not merged: (a) Decommissioning port - NavSource states 'at Norfolk, VA'; the DANFS sequence (Hampton Roads arrival 11-03 for deactivation prep, then 'moved to Baltimore, Md., on 21 November 1945 for a final yard period and was decommissioned on 11 December') implies Baltimore; unresolved, both carried. (b) Complement - DANFS 214; NavSource 15 officers + 190 enlisted (205); HyperWar generic class table 198; unresolved. (c) Armament - DANFS 1x5" + 1x3" + 8x20mm; NavSource spec block 1x5"/38 + 1x3"/50 + 2x40mm + 6x20mm; a NavSource photo caption (NARA RG-19-LCM via Shipscribe) describes Azimech as 'one of four ships of this class converted with an old 4"/50 gun aft'; HyperWar lists two variants; unresolved. (d) Draft - DANFS 28'4"; NavSource 27'7"; MARAD detail 27.60 / MA-20 27'8-7/8" / card face 27'7-7/8"; HyperWar generic 30'; unresolved. (e) Full-load displacement - DANFS and NavSource 14,550 vs HyperWar generic 11,565; light displacement 4,023 consistent. (f) Speed - 12.5 (DANFS, status card, NavSource trial) vs 11 (reserve-fleet card) vs 11.5 (HyperWar generic). (g) Power - '2500 IHP' (reserve-fleet card) and 2,500 shp (NavSource) vs 1,950 hp (HyperWar generic). (h) Scrap buyer's name - DANFS and MARAD card read 'Isaac Varela'; NavSource 'Isaac Verela' - 'Varela' adopted. (i) MARAD milestones typo 'ex-AXIMECH' (for AZIMECH) on the 1945 acquisition and 1972 disposition rows - transcription quirk noted. (j) DWT - 10,500 typed on MA-20 and reserve-fleet card vs handwritten '10,541' on the custody card - variance noted. (k) Namesake phrasing - DANFS 'a star in the constellation Spica' conflates star and constellation; see ev-06.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-1972 (dates reconciled 2026-09-20)
- Limitations
- Resolves nothing by fiat - records which source says what so downstream consumers inherit the conflicts honestly. No asbestos content in any reconciled source.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-08
-
[9]NARA record-group guidance: RG 24 deck logs (post-1941 at Archives II, College Park); RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records; MARAD sale documentation (PD-X-946 / MA-6775 referenced on status cards) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov/research/military/logbooks (post-1941 Navy deck logs at College Park); archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/178.html; catalog.archives.gov returned only its JS application shell to automated query on 2026-09-20 - no digitized AK-124 log confirmed
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction orders; no spend authorized): (a) NARA RG 24 WWII deck logs for AK-124 (1943-45) at Archives II, College Park - would log the Moore Dry Dock conversion window, the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard keelblock overhaul, the Terminal Island availability, the San Francisco repairs, the Puget Sound Navy Yard period, and the Baltimore final yard period; (b) NARA RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division and regional construction-director files may hold the MCE hull 1725 contract and outfitting specifications for Permanente No. 2; (c) Bureau of Ships / supervisor-of-shipbuilding records for the Moore Dry Dock availability (Oct 1943) - the likeliest surviving source of any materials description; (d) MARAD sale file PD-X-946 / contract MA-6775 (1972) for any condition statements attached to the foreign-scrap sale; (e) Sudden & Christenson corporate records - the GAA operator window (Aug-Oct 1943) is the hull's only merchant-service period.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1943-1972 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-azimech-ak124-09