General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsusns comfort being slow walked....
It hasn't made much progress. It seems to be doing 10 knots during the day (should be doint 15-20), but appears to have not made way overnight. A ship like that should almost be to new york by now. It is still off the coast of virginia.
What gives? Why the slow walk? It seems intentional.
dhol82
(9,352 posts)gibraltar72
(7,503 posts)dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)category.
RockRaven
(14,959 posts)Then the send-off was used as a Trump PR stunt. Lord knows if the ship was even ready to be put into service.
Is the ship even capable of it's normal speed? Are they still performing maintenance while it is en route (i.e. going slower on purpose to give them time to finish what needs to be done before arriving in NYC)?
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)benld74
(9,904 posts)PR Stunt definitely
Still hoping it provides something though
JHB
(37,158 posts)...much harder to turn around, but it was definitely on downtime.
I think the big question here is "does it have its medical crew?"
if it was rushed back into active service, that's a pretty big question. 'Cause if the answer's "no", then it's just a bunch of beds.
Yonnie3
(17,431 posts)It is likely that is has been out of range of the shore stations and is well up the Eastern Seaboard at this time.
Edit to add: vesselfinder.com has a 12 hour old position of 38.8811 N / 73.91034 W which is about 40 miles off shore from Atlantic City NJ
Amishman
(5,555 posts)The crew question is big though, I'd love to see an answer for that too
DinahMoeHum
(21,783 posts)Navy hospital ships are designed to handle military and massive trauma injuries, as well as other cases regular ships' sick bays can't handle. They're really not designed to handle pandemics.
I think the hospital ships are out there to handle all other cases the shoreside hospitals are dealing with, thereby making more shoreside beds available specifically for the COVID-19 cases.
#newrostrong
getagrip_already
(14,708 posts)It would handle non-covid patients only. But it frees up a lot of regular hospittal and icu beds that can be shifted to covid patients.
Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)..won't get the virus as a door prize, so to speak.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)be brought into the ship, I honestly dont - people will be coming and going, bringing patients and supplies - the odds of remaining COVID-free would seem to be minimal at best.
But hey, I hope Im wrong and that this great ship and her people soothe and comfort many a distressed patients brow!!!
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)isn't to pull into port until he can be on hand to greet and welcome them to NY. Everything is just a photo op to him.
dhol82
(9,352 posts)Wonder if he will be wearing a flight suit with a cod piece?
getagrip_already
(14,708 posts)I didn't notice the timestamp, but I do watch marinetraffic often (I have a fishing boat I take way past where they are) and satellites will pick up positions when they are out of vhf range.
Maybe they are further along. It's possible. But they should still be picked up by ais receivers.
Yonnie3
(17,431 posts)I don't pay to get the satellite data as my interests are all close to shore
vesselfinder.com was my source
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,490 posts)By: Megan Eckstein
March 26, 2020 7:36 PM
Read here: https://news.usni.org/2020/03/26/usns-comfort-departs-for-new-york-on-saturday-with-trump-modly-in-attendance
(snip)
It's possible New York is still preparing a suitable berth for her in port for receiving those type patients.
KY.............
ramblin_dave
(1,546 posts)Yonnie3
(17,431 posts)NY dredging to get slip ready. Hopefully they're ready now.
global1
(25,241 posts)can take another bow as it's arrival is shown on TV.
He's got an election to win ya know!!!!
Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)According to USA Today, the area where it will be docked, one of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal piers on the Hudson River in midtown, required some extra dredging over the weekend to accommodate it. Perhaps that had something to do with the timing.
BTW The ship isn't going to be used for covid-19 patients. It will be used as an overflow facility for people requiring hospitalizations for other medical reasons.
mercuryblues
(14,530 posts)it should not take more than 18 hrs to get to NYC.
canetoad
(17,152 posts)Courtesy of this very cool website: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-60.6/centery:26.6/zoom:4
SoCal Roomba
(44 posts)Those ships rarely leave port as they arent used much.
This one was undergoing some repairs, the crew would never slow play an underway movement, no matter what POTUS suggests.
The Navy just doesnt work that way.
Its more than likely not ready for sea yet, and they are being safe. And believe it or not, Trump probably told them to get underway and make it work. Yeah, sometimes bat shit crazy works. Somehow.
The Mercy is already ported in LA. Granted, its a much shorter trek.
Believe me, the Sailors on that boat want to get to NYC to help out.
Besides, these ships are only going to be used for people that dont have symptoms. Not that they shouldnt hurry, but you dont want it to be stuck out at sea either.
Relax. This isnt some nefarious plan by Trump. Its more than likely an abundance of caution. The Navy treats every vessel the same.
lamp_shade
(14,828 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)and Welcome to DU!
murielm99
(30,733 posts)And welcome! Please post more here.
maxrandb
(15,320 posts)They pulled it out of its maintenance availability. More than likely they deferred required work to a later date.
It might be limited in speed due to limitations on stressing the propulsion plants.
As you said, barring any unforeseen issue, they will make their scheduled berthing in NYC on time.
The Magistrate
(95,244 posts)"If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't, paint it."