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Comfort Arrives in Halifax

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060430-05
Release Date: 5/1/2006 9:00:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Heather Weaver, USNS Comfort Public Affairs

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (NNS) -- USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 29 after departing Baltimore harbor earlier this week for a combined joint medical exercise with Canadian Forces and the British Royal Navy.

While underway, Comfort conducted drills such as patient flow, abandon ship and hospital ship orientation, to ready staff and crew for the international medical exercise that will be taking place in Halifax.

“It is vital to future operations that Comfort’s crew learn to work with our national and international partners,” said Capt. Albert Shimkus, commanding officer of the embarked Military Treatment Facility.

During the exercise, 19 Canadian and 14 Royal Navy personnel, along with five members of the U.S. Public Health Service, are embarked aboard Comfort.

“The similarities between all of the allies aboard far outweigh any differences between us,” said Cmdr. Scott Taylor of the Canadian Forces.

This exercise strengthens international partnerships vital to combat, contingency or disaster relief operations. Comfort is prepared to rapidly respond with national and international partners to both domestic and international contingencies, Shimkus said.

“It is remarkable how you quickly bond with the people you are working with no matter where they are from,” said Capt. Jodi Shaw of the Canadian Forces.

“More and more in the future, we’re going to be working together as a team. You never know if you’ll have to come onto one of our hospital facilities or we may have to come onto one of yours. It’s imperative we have an awareness of each other’s processes and practices,” said Royal Navy Lt. Elaine Thorpe, a training team member aboard the ship.

Comfort’s crew and their international counterparts will conduct mass casualty exercises, to include trauma training, additional patient flow drills, and a tabletop simulation exercise while in Nova Scotia. This will be followed by an after-action brief before departure.

Following the exercise, Comfort is scheduled to depart Halifax and sail to Boston for a port visit. Comfort will also make a stop in Norfolk, Va., before heading back to Baltimore harbor.

“This is an outstanding crew, and the full integration of our international partners makes Comfort that much stronger to respond to any operation in the world that requires this ship’s medical capabilities,” said Shimkus. “It is the skills and dedication of this crew, both civilian and military, that makes this ship a leader in military medicine.”

In previous missions, Comfort assisted in relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At its height, the hospital ship had more than 700 medical and support personnel aboard to assist in the Federal Emergency Management Agency-led initiative to provide disaster relief to the Gulf region. The ship also took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom and provided services for rescue workers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Comfort has unique capabilities for humanitarian relief missions, including helicopter lift, advanced medical equipment, a wide range of medical skills, berthing and personnel support, as well as supplies to support medical operations ashore.