United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

U.S. Government
Haiti Joint Information Center
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
February 20, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort will temporarily depart Port-au-Prince’s harbor Feb. 21 at approximately 3 p.m. to conduct a resupply mission and return Feb. 22.

Comfort Master, Capt. Bob Holley, said the operation should take no longer than 24 hours.
The hospital ship will receive medical supplies, provisions and fuel from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman.

“During this resupply operation, Comfort will continue to provide medical care,” said Rear Adm. David Thomas, commander, Joint Maritime Component Command. “It is important the ship resupply in order to continue rendering medical support to the overall humanitarian effort.”

Comfort will take on approximately one million gallons of fuel and refill fresh water stores which will allow Comfort to continue her mission in Haiti of providing critical medical care to those affected by the 7.0 earthquake that struck last month. Since Jan. 19, Comfort’s medical team has performed 767 surgeries and treated a total of 933 injured patients.