Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
-
[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 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. This hull is the Z-EC2-S-C5 'airplane transport' hull-form variant of the EC2-S design carrying the standard Liberty machinery fit.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945
- Population
- Construction trades (New England Shipbuilding, South Portland, 1945); merchant engine crew (1945-47); Navy engineering crew (1963-69)
- Limitations
- Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual names the EC2-S-C1 type, not this vessel or the Z-EC2-S-C5 variant, 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-georgetown-ag165-01
-
[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 Z-EC2-S-C5 Liberty-type 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 type and does not establish that asbestos was aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation. Hull scrapped 1971 - no present-day presence question survives.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-02
-
[3]In re Joint Eastern and Southern Districts Asbestos Litigation (Robinson v. United States), 891 F.2d 31 (2d Cir. 1989) [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion, 891 F.2d 31 (No. 1547, docket 89-6109)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Second Circuit ruling addressing mesothelioma claims by a mariner aboard War Shipping Administration vessels; the court considered jurisdiction over a personal-injury claim against the United States for asbestos exposure aboard the WWII government merchant fleet - the same operating agency (WSA, acting through general agents such as Agwilines) that ran this hull as Robert W. Hart from delivery August 2, 1945. Claims against the government were barred on discretionary-function grounds - the litigation posture governing this hull's WSA/merchant period.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1989 (opinion); wartime exposure period
- Population
- WWII merchant mariners (class context)
- Limitations
- Fleet-level jurisdictional ruling; does not name this hull, does not find asbestos conditions aboard any specific vessel, and establishes only the litigation posture for WWII merchant-fleet claims - it does not govern the 1963-69 Navy period (which would proceed as product-liability actions against manufacturers, not the vessel). Reporter citation confirmed in batch-01.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-03
-
[4]Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Georgetown (AG-165)' - transcription mirror (live NHHC DANFS page returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-20; same link-rot pattern documented in BATCH-01-REPORT) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- hazegray DANFS transcription, full entry; NHHC canonical URL unresolved (404)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry (Georgetown AG-165, Oxford class): converted 'Liberty-type' cargo ship laid down as Robert W. Hart under Maritime Commission contract 4 May 1945 by New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland, Maine; launched 10 July 1945 (sponsor Mrs. Fred W. Woolsey); delivered under General Agency Agreement from WSA to Agwilines, New York, 2 August 1945. Merchant service to NDRF Wilmington NC December 1946; Waterman Steamship Corp. bareboat charter 31 January 1947; NDRF James River 29 October 1947. Acquired by the Navy 10 August 1962; converted to a technical research ship at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.; renamed Georgetown (AG-165) 6 March 1963; commissioned Norfolk 9 November 1963, Comdr. W. A. Gleason in command. Shakedown Guantanamo Bay January 1964; reclassified AGTR-2 1 April 1964; operational service from 13 April with Service Squadron 8 - Caribbean, eastern South America (June-October 1964), southeast Pacific off Chile via Panama Canal (January-May 1965), eastern South America again (July-October 1965); fitted with Communications Moon Relay System; 1966 record included two rescues, four canal transits, a hurricane-eye passage, and Battle Efficiency 'E.' Data block: displacement 8,345; length 441'6"; beam 56'11"; draft 22'9"; speed 11k; complement 213; armament none.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945-1967
- Population
- Ship's company and Naval Security Group detachment, 1963-69 (cover-period crew)
- Limitations
- Authoritative Navy ship history, but the DANFS entry was written in service and ends circa 1966-67 - it does not cover the 1967-69 deployments, decommissioning, or disposal (those rest on the NSA review and secondary compilations). Contains no asbestos, insulation-material, or hazardous-material statement; supports no asbestos claim. 'Complement 213' is the DANFS figure - see gaps for the crew-figure discrepancy.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-04
-
[5]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - ROBERT W. HART Detail 4203 and GEORGETOWN Detail 1953, with digitized reserve-fleet status cards (MA-383 forms) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 4203 + status cards 4203_7743AF/BF/CF.jpg and 634_01.png; Detail 1953 + status card 1953_3635AF.jpg; companion record https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/4203
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory records and digitized status cards for this hull: ROBERT W. HART (ShipHistory Detail 4203) - built 1945 by New England Shipbuilding Corporation; MARAD type Z-EC2-S-C5, category 'Airplane Transport,' class Liberty; MCE hull 3125; 7,176 gross / 4,380 net tons, 10,800 DWT; completed/delivered to WSA 1945-08-02 at South Portland. Status-card custody chain: Agwilines GAA 8-2-45; Wilmington NC Reserve Fleet entry 12-13-46; Waterman SS Corp. (GAA pending bareboat) 1-31-47, bareboat (MC/BB) New York 3-22-47, GAA Norfolk VA 9-15-47; Reserve Fleet Lee Hall VA 10-29-47; Navy Department permanent transfer at James River 8-10-62 ('Navy-Perm. Transfer for conversion to Technical Research Ships - see Navy letter May 1, 1962; Comm. reply May 11, 1962'). GEORGETOWN (Detail 1953): entered James River fleet 6-24-70 after Navy service; SOLD SCRAP PD-X-876 dated 7-24-70 to N.V. Intershitra c/o R.C. Hamilton, Inc. for $185,000 under contract MA-6033; withdrawn 8-26-70 'Left for purchaser.'
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945-1970
- Population
- NDRF custody/worker populations (Wilmington 1946-47; James River 1947-62, 1970); Dutch breaking-yard workers 1970-71 (unquantified)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for government custody milestones, sale, and disposal - primary status-card scans read directly. Sale price on card is $185,000 (secondary compilations give $185,001 - discrepancy logged). Cards record fuel oil on entry (219 bbls Bunker C, 1947) and lay-up condition notes but contain no asbestos, insulation, or materials information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-05
-
[6]National Security Agency, 'A Review of the Technical Research Ship Program 1961-1969' (declassified; released via FOIA, 2010) - governmentattic.org mirror [other_primary]
- Locator
- Ship profile section (p.~8); USS GEORGETOWN ship history pp. 29-41; on/off-station table p. 96; target-area passages pp. 114-115
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Declassified NSA program review documents this hull's operational career: ship profile lists former hull AG-165, Liberty-type hull Z-EC2-S-C5, displacement 11,157 tons, length 441 ft, former name SS Robert W. Hart, general-service personnel allowance 9 officers + 151 enlisted, reciprocating steam propulsion, 11 kt max, conversion by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, commissioned November 9, 1963, conversion cost $3,100,000. Program context: 'technical research ships' were dedicated seaborne SIGINT collection platforms under NSA control; the program was terminated by OSD in October 1969 amid DoD budget reductions. Ship-specific entries: boiler blow-out 25 March 1967 en route deployment, repaired at Cristobal, Canal Zone, through 15 April 1967; relieved USNS Sgt. Joseph E. Muller on station 15 May 1967; departed Norfolk 16 October 1967 for GTMO refresher training; Mediterranean cruise under Sixth Fleet SAILO tasking (on-station operations from 6 February 1968) with a documented 13-day delay at Naples, Italy due to the USS Pueblo incident; relieved USNS Muller June-August 1968, arrived Norfolk 7 August 1968; boiler outage reported 13 November (corrected by ship's force 16 November); loss of No. 1 diesel generator and engine crankshaft reported January 1969 (beyond ship's-force capability); arrived Norfolk 6 March 1969 after final cruise; CNO publicly announced retirement 17 October 1969; disestablished 17 December 1969.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1963-1969
- Population
- Ship's company (~160 general-service allowance) plus Naval Security Group technical detachment, 1963-69
- Limitations
- Authoritative declassified agency history; OCR of the released scan is rough and multiple operational details remain redacted under (b)(1)/(b)(3) exemptions - including the stated reason for Georgetown's December 1967 Mediterranean diversion, which is withheld in the release. Documents operations and machinery casualties; contains no asbestos, insulation, or hazardous-material statement; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-06
-
[7]Seagoing Cowboys historical project, UNRRA livestock-shipment report by date (ship-by-ship program records) - seagoingcowboys.com [other_primary]
- Locator
- UNRRA report by date, entry '4/26/1946 Robert W. Hart Baltimore Yugoslavia'; program ship list; participant account (June-July 1946 Gdansk voyage)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- This hull (as SS Robert W. Hart) was among the 73 converted cargo ships - 23 of them Liberty hulls - used by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Brethren Service Committee 'seagoing cowboys' program to carry livestock to war-damaged Europe. The program's ship-by-ship records list Robert W. Hart departing Baltimore 26 April 1946 for Yugoslavia; a June 1946 voyage carried 147 head of livestock (100 Heifer Project heifers plus a cow and 46 UNRRA horses) to Nowy Port/Gdansk, Poland. Livestock-conversion voyages involved adding animal stalls and cages to cargo spaces - a documented (if modest) interior modification event in this hull's history.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945-1947
- Population
- Seagoing cowboys (livestock attendants) and merchant crew, 1946-47
- Limitations
- Volunteer-run historical project compiling the program's own shipment records - the authoritative public record for the cowboy-ship program but not a government database; the named voyages are corroborated by program records, the interior-modification characterization is generic to the program (all livestock ships received stall/cage fittings) and is not a hull-specific material record. No asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-07
-
[8]NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive, USS Georgetown (AGTR-2) page 09/60/6002; NavalCoverMuseum GEORGETOWN AGTR-2 entry (corroborating compilation) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 09/60/6002 (Oxford-class chronology + CO roster); navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/GEORGETOWN_AGTR_2
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Secondary compilation record (consistent across NavSource and the Naval Cover Museum): decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register 19 December 1969; returned to the Maritime Administration 24 June 1970 at the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, VA; sold for scrapping 24 July 1970 to N.V. Intershitra, Netherlands, for $185,001; scrapped 1971. Commanding-officer roster: Gleason (commissioning-Oct 1964), Mullahy, Betts, Gebler, Lockey (to 19 Dec 1969).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1969-1971
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled secondary source - the standard public compilation for these milestones and consistent with the MARAD status card (custody entry 6-24-70; withdrawal 8-26-70) and NSA review (disestablishment 17 Dec 1969; CNO announcement 17 Oct 1969), but the 19 December decommission/strike date itself is not in a located primary document - NVR online coverage postdates a 1969 strike. $185,001 differs from the MARAD card's $185,000 (card figure carried). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-08
-
[9]MARAD ShipHistory Detail 1953 (type label 'AGC Amphibious Force Flagship'; attached GEORGETOWN.pdf covering a 1942 small boat); status card 1953_3635AF.jpg (PD-X-876, $185,000) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Detail 1953 header fields + Documents section; status card; /documents/76c08e38-2aa3-4a8d-a112-7468b1866a8e.pdf
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Data-integrity corrections in the authoritative record: (a) MARAD ShipHistory titles this hull 'GEORGETOWN (AGC-2/AGTR-2)' with specific type 'AGC Amphibious Force Flagship' - a database labeling quirk; the hull was AG-165/AGTR-2, a technical research ship, never an amphibious force flagship. (b) The single document attached to the MARAD Georgetown record ('GEORGETOWN.pdf') documents a different vessel - a small boat named Georgetown requisitioned from trawler Fordham, Inc. at Boston in January 1942 - a name collision inside the MARAD file. (c) Sale price: MARAD status card PD-X-876 records $185,000; secondary compilations give $185,001.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1942-1970 records
- Limitations
- Corrects database-level labeling and file-attachment defects, and a $1 price discrepancy between primary card and secondary compilations; none affects identity or the custody timeline materially. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-09
-
[10]Batch-651 search ledger (this record): DANFS transcription; MARAD ShipHistory Details 4203/1953 + status cards + attached document; NSA TRS Program review; NavSource/NavalCoverMuseum; seagoingcowboys.com program records; CourtListener (blocked) + site-restricted web screening [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-georgetown-ag165-01 through sl-uss-georgetown-ag165-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, conversion material schedule, or docketed case naming Georgetown/AG-165/AGTR-2/Robert W. Hart/MCE 3125 was found in the public sources searched (DANFS, MARAD ShipHistory + status cards, NSA program review, museum/compilations; see search_ledger). CourtListener API queries were blocked by the shared-IP daily rate limit at research time; litigation screening was done via general web search (name-collision dominated by Georgetown University dockets) and returned no qualifying hull-specific case - the litigation negative is partial coverage, not a clean docket-level negative.
- 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 1945 emergency-built hull gutted for conversion in 1962-63 is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials at build, and conversion disturbance is undocumented. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility. CourtListener block means litigation coverage is incomplete.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-10
-
[11]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 19 (Bureau of Ships), RG 178 (US Maritime Commission), RG 248 (War Shipping Administration), RG 26 (USCG merchant logbook distribution) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/019.html, /178.html, /248.html; archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/merchant-vessels-pl.html
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction orders; no spend authorized): NARA RG 19 (Bureau of Ships) conversion-design and shipyard work-package records for the 1962-63 Newport News AG-165 conversion - the likeliest source for material/insulation scope on this hull; RG 178 (U.S. Maritime Commission) Construction Division records 1945 and regional construction-director files for MCE hull 3125 at New England Shipbuilding, South Portland; RG 248 (War Shipping Administration) vessel files for the merchant period; RG 26 merchant-vessel logbooks distributed by port of submission (Baltimore/New York); Naval Security Group/declassified Navy records for the 1963-69 detachment fit-out.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1945-1969 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull or its conversion is unknown until surveyed in person. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-georgetown-ag165-11