Mayport Naval Station

Naval Station Mayport (NSM), located in Jacksonville, Florida, was commissioned in December 1942, just a year after America became involved in World War II.  It is now the third largest fleet concentration area in the U.S.  Its harbor, with easy access to inland waterways and the open ocean, is capable of accommodating 34 ships, and an 8,000-foot runway can handle any aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory.

Four times its original size, Naval Station Mayport boasts 3,400 acres and is host to more than 70 tenant commands.  The commands include the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), 20 other naval ships, and six Light Airborne Multi-purpose System (LAMPS) Mark III helicopter squadrons.  NS Mayport is also the operational and training headquarters for the SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS MKIII with a primary mission of anti-submarine warfare.

During World War II, Mayport provided vital support to the country’s war effort, both in terms of personnel and logistics.  After the war it was placed into “caretaker” status and became a small “Boot Camp” of sorts.  It was reactivated in 1948 and continued to grow in regards to accommodating new ships of different classes.  Runways were extended for increasing air traffic as well.  More housing and other facilities were added for sailors and their families.

Through the years since NSM’s commissioning, employees at Mayport participated in a number of tasks which may have exposed them to asbestos via damaged ships that contained asbestos materials, such as insulation, gaskets, floor and ceiling tiles, and other items.  Damaged asbestos may have caused the circulation of airborne particles which could have, in turn, been inhaled by those working on the ships or in the vicinity of the vessel.

If you worked at Naval Station Mayport and have developed mesothelioma, you should educate yourself as to the particulars of the disease, its treatment, and your legal rights.  Order our free Mesothelioma Information Kit for more details.