The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts
The USNS Comfort Ship is Quite Unique
The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts Number One:
Some history- The T-AH 20, out of Baltimore, MD was only commissioned as a hospital ship on December 1st, 1987. Prior to that the ship was originally keeled as an oil tanker on May 1st, 1975. Altogether, that makes the ship itself thirty-four years old and running fine. Good job building that boat National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., of San Diego, CA.
The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts Number Two:
Dimensions- Length: 894 feet (272.6 meters); Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters); Draft: 33 feet (10 meters); this ship displaces around 69,350 tons of water fully loaded, and even with all that mass, makes 17.5 knots.
The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts Number Three:
Service- Baltimore's USNS Comfort Hospital Ship has been all over the globe, including the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and even service as a base for emergency workers during the 9/11 attacks on New York City. The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship's primary mission is to offer fast, flexible, medical support to our military. However, the ship is often utilized in humanitarian aid, under other governments.
The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts Number Four:
Crew- Onboard this modern marvel of mercy, one could find the ship staffed with 550 medical staff, 60 civilian mariners, and 125 Naval support staff. All of these are commanded by Captain Ware, a native of Savannah, GA.
The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship: Five Facts Number Five:
Armament- The USNS Comfort Hospital Ship has no armaments. According to the "Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea" of August 12, 1949, it is a war crime to attack anyone on a "mission of mercy."
Sources:
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnscomfort/Pages/default.aspx
http://navysite.de/ships/comfort.htm
http://wjz.com/local/haiti.usns.comfort.2.1436949.html
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01202010/aspenew213908_32603.php
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12 Comments
Post a CommentYeah! We really do! It's a hell of a smart idea!
Excellent info here. We need more USS Comforts!
Very interesting information about this hospital ship. I'm from Baltimore, but never heard of it!!
It's so great to see people helping! I don't have extra money to donate - I barely pay my bills most months as it is! Glad I could write. I definitely don't mind writing to help donate! I can do that!
Fb'd!
I enjoyed this article bro!
Great facts.
Fascinating to know! And it's a peace ship to boot-- no armaments! Terrific lucid facts!
I worry about the last one, war crime or not. Interesting, Mr. Pebbington.
The ship hospitals seem to be a solution; it may take too long to fly to America to treat and getting into the mainland with the medical supplies is very difficult. Excellent info!