A hospital as long as three football fields and taller than a 10-story building is moored at Canton Piers. Based out of Baltimore, USNS Comfort (T-AH-29), Mercy class Hospital Ship, is a floating ambulance and medical treatment center, recognizable by its nine red crosses. Comfort does not carry any armaments. Thus, firing on the ship is considered a war crime by the Geneva Conventions. USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) is the only other hospital ship in the Mercy class fleet. Both vessels are converted super oil tankers.
Comfort?s primary function is as a medical treatment facility, providing emergency, on-site care for U.S. combatant forces deployed in war or other operations.
Secondary duty provides mobile surgical hospital service for use by appropriate U.S. government agencies in disasters or humanitarian relief missions. Last year, Comfort was dispatched to the devastated areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. “Within a few hours, the medical treatment facility was ready for Katrina. We were up to speed in two days,” said assistant commanding officer, Capt. Ben Feril.
In December 2002, Comfort set sail for the U.S. Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon arrival in the Persian Gulf, she served as an afloat trauma center. The medical team treated nearly 700 patients including Iraqi civilians and enemy prisoners of war.
Comfort was called to duty the afternoon of Sept. 11 in response to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. She was escorted out of Baltimore the next day by the U.S. Coast Guard to serve as a 250-bed hospital facility.
A specialized team operates the mobile medical center. The Military Sealift Command and Naval Operations together have Command responsibilities. Civil service mariners employed by the government, are primarily responsible for the ship?s transportation and safety. In full operating status, 63-66 civilian crew members will maintain jobs onboard, according to Feril. Naval Operations is charged with hospital and staff responsibilities, headed up by Capt. Albert J. Shemkus, Jr., Nurse Corps.
Comfort is designed to receive 300 surgical patients a day, with a total patient capacity of 1,000 beds. Casualty reception, radiology, laboratory and pharmacy are primary facilities.
Baltimore?s proximity to Bethesda Naval Hospital, where staff is gathered, quickens the response for deployment. “Our success has been realized by getting up to speed fast.” Feril said.
A longtime export analyst and consultant, Joseph R. Hughes? maritime-related articles have appeared in numerous publications. He is a native Baltimorean. E-mail your questions to him at [email protected].
