Comments on: Is the USNS MERCY being readied for Haiti deployment? Drydocking cancelled? http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/ Digital Media from a consumer's point of view. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:08:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tom Sherer http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/comment-page-1/#comment-3587 Tom Sherer Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:39:22 +0000 http://penguinsix.com/?p=2788#comment-3587 This morning 3/5 a friend 'back East' heard that a tanker converted into a HS would be departing for Chile. I am presuming that would be the Mercy. According to webinfo (always reliable?), Mercy was scheduled for a CA face lift until 3/8ish (give or take a few millions in cost overruns). Your info that the repair crew have been laid-off is curious. On Mon/Tue there was a report on NPR from P-a-P that the 1st Navy ship was preparing for return departure. The report also indicated the Comfort had discharged its last patient over the weekend (2/27-8). Also curious given the incredible number of amputations and serious injuries and the devastation of every P-a-P hospital along with their staffs. Could Docs w/o Borders and all of the other emergency care providers be able to continue to provide the care for amputees, etc. for the foreseeable future? As bad as Central Chile seems to be, can the Mercy even make it there in time now to render meaningful aid? Given Tsunami, Katrina, et al., Haiti and Chile in the past 5 years, why do we only have 2 USNHSs left in the fleet? There appear to be no LST-types or landing craft left. Sure would have helped in all of the above. This morning 3/5 a friend ‘back East’ heard that a tanker converted into a HS would be departing for Chile. I am presuming that would be the Mercy. According to webinfo (always reliable?), Mercy was scheduled for a CA face lift until 3/8ish (give or take a few millions in cost overruns).
Your info that the repair crew have been laid-off is curious.

On Mon/Tue there was a report on NPR from P-a-P that the 1st Navy ship was preparing for return departure. The report also indicated the Comfort had discharged its last patient over the weekend (2/27-8). Also curious given the incredible number of amputations and serious injuries and the devastation of every P-a-P hospital along with their staffs. Could Docs w/o Borders and all of the other emergency care providers be able to continue to provide the care for amputees, etc. for the foreseeable future?

As bad as Central Chile seems to be, can the Mercy even make it there in time now to render meaningful aid?

Given Tsunami, Katrina, et al., Haiti and Chile in the past 5 years, why do we only have 2 USNHSs left in the fleet? There appear to be no LST-types or landing craft left. Sure would have helped in all of the above.

]]> By: DouglasUrantia http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/comment-page-1/#comment-3205 DouglasUrantia Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:55:33 +0000 http://penguinsix.com/?p=2788#comment-3205 Washington has ordered the USNS Comfort to remain in Haiti’s waters for up to another 60 weeks. This may be why there are rumors about the USNS Mercy being readied as a relief or in readiness for unknown emergencies. Washington has ordered the USNS Comfort to remain in Haiti’s waters for up to another 60 weeks.

This may be why there are rumors about the USNS Mercy being readied as a relief or in readiness for unknown emergencies.

]]> By: DouglasUrantia http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/comment-page-1/#comment-3186 DouglasUrantia Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:07:52 +0000 http://penguinsix.com/?p=2788#comment-3186 May I add that there are lots of weapons on the Comfort. http://www.flickr.com/photos/isle_of_paradise/4299937782/ Here is a photo of a machine gun on the rail of Comfort at Haiti. These days with terror threats, a hosptial ship like the Comfort needs constant 24/7 armed protection of both the crew and patients from hostile forces. Many parts of the 1949 Geneva Convention agreements went out the window with the attack on the USS Cole and the type of 'multi-dimensional' warfare we now face worldwide. May I add that there are lots of weapons on the Comfort.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/isle_of_paradise/4299937782/
Here is a photo of a machine gun on the rail of Comfort at Haiti.

These days with terror threats, a hosptial ship like the Comfort needs constant 24/7 armed protection of both the crew and patients from hostile forces.

Many parts of the 1949 Geneva Convention agreements went out the window with the attack on the USS Cole and the type of ‘multi-dimensional’ warfare we now face worldwide.

]]> By: DouglasUrantia http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/comment-page-1/#comment-3185 DouglasUrantia Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:42:21 +0000 http://penguinsix.com/?p=2788#comment-3185 The Navy is making plans for a second ship to anchor alongside the Comfort and serve as a sleeping facility, with some sailors working 12-hour shifts on the hospital ship, then spending 12 hours on the other ship to sleep and relax. The Navy is making plans for a second ship to anchor alongside the Comfort and serve as a sleeping facility, with some sailors working 12-hour shifts on the hospital ship, then spending 12 hours on the other ship to sleep and relax.

]]> By: Jim Dolbow http://penguinsix.com/2010/01/26/is-the-usns-mercy-being-readied-for-haiti-deployment-drydocking-cancelled/comment-page-1/#comment-3159 Jim Dolbow Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:26:31 +0000 http://penguinsix.com/?p=2788#comment-3159 Thanks for the shout out. I am adding you to my blogroll. Thanks for the shout out. I am adding you to my blogroll.

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