USNS Comfort leaves Baltimore for final time

[Sprightly]

Bummer. I always felt a weird sense of pride that she was docked in here.

After more than two decades of calling Baltimore home, the 894-foot hospital ship USNS Comfort left early Tuesday morning from Pier 11 in Canton for the final time.

The white-hulled ship, a maritime landmark, is being permanently moved to Norfolk, Va., before it leaves for another mission of mercy.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,6950395.story

[jethro666]

I saw her this morning as I crossed the Key Bridge. I felt the same way.

[ybnormal]

Bummer indeed. When driving along 895 going into/out of the Tunnel, we always looked for her when she was in port. A true sense of pride. For whatever reason, ships have almost a human attachment to them that is especially true with Comfort and all the people she's helped.

[KSweeley]

This is awful, how many people have or will become unemployed as a result of the permanent departure of the Comfort? Does the feds even care?

[ybnormal]

This is awful, how many people have or will become unemployed as a result of the permanent departure of the Comfort? Does the feds even care?

You obviously didn't bother to read the article:

"The ship was responsible for 80 jobs, civilian and military, and generated $11.3 million for the local economy each year in salaries, taxes and purchases, according to Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger."

[sigmalady]

The move, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said last year during a congressional hearing, was strictly financial.

Sealift Command officials said stationing Comfort in Norfolk saves the 12 hours it takes to steam down the Chesapeake Bay, time that is crucial when responding to an emergency. By having the ship in Norfolk, the Navy estimates it will save about $2 million a year in berthing fees.

It is sad, and a loss to Maryland's economy.

[KSweeley]

What I don't understand is why the federal government basically wasted $5 million to renovate the Canton pier where the Comfort called its home port for over 2 decades in 2008 in order for the Comfort to potentially remain in Baltimore for the next 20 years and now 5 years later in a "cost-saving measure" moving the Comfort to Norfolk, Virginia.

Bentley noted that in 2008, the Navy spent $5 million to renovate the Canton pier to ensure it could be used for another 20 years. And, she said, the Navy received $10 million to renovate the Norfolk berth.

[Sprightly]

What I don't understand is why the federal government basically wasted $5 million to renovate the Canton pier where the Comfort called its home port for over 2 decades in 2008 in order for the Comfort to potentially remain in Baltimore for the next 20 years and now 5 years later in a "cost-saving measure" moving the Comfort to Norfolk, Virginia.

Just another example of wasteful government spending. The 12 miles explanation is weak at best. I watched the PR person on the news this morning. Even he couldn't get it out of mouth with any conviction.

[ybnormal]

Just another example of wasteful government spending. The 12 miles explanation is weak at best. I watched the PR person on the news this morning. Even he couldn't get it out of mouth with any conviction.

You call that wasteful? THIS is wasteful:

"Last month, the Senate Budget Committee reported that in fiscal year 2011, between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and other benefits, the average U.S. household below the poverty line received $168.00 a day in government support. What's the problem with that much support? Well, the median household income in America is just over $50,000, which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now pays the equivalent of $30.00 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average job pays $25.00 an hour."

[Sprightly]

You call that wasteful? THIS is wasteful:

"Last month, the Senate Budget Committee reported that in fiscal year 2011, between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and other benefits, the average U.S. household below the poverty line received $168.00 a day in government support. What's the problem with that much support? Well, the median household income in America is just over $50,000, which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now pays the equivalent of $30.00 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average job pays $25.00 an hour."

The thread is about the USNS Comfort. I'm sure that you could start a very spirited debate about other government waste -- elsewhere.

[Hexexis]

I got to tour the Comfort back in '89, w/ my reserve unit: O.R.s were the size of 3-car garages.

Guess the romantic thrill of cruising ChesBay is over: years ago I met former mariners in the German merchant marine that said one of their greatest thrills was cruising up the Bay @dawn to dock in Balto. Where fed. thinks its saving money is that 1-day sailing time down the Bay.

[jessup270]

What I don't understand is why the federal government basically wasted $5 million to renovate the Canton pier where the Comfort called its home port for over 2 decades in 2008 in order for the Comfort to potentially remain in Baltimore for the next 20 years and now 5 years later in a "cost-saving measure" moving the Comfort to Norfolk, Virginia.

The military wastes millions of dollars every day.

That is why I have no problem with massive cuts to the military budget.

The Comfort is a prime example of military waste and of course the military answers to no one.

[Hexexis]

" ...saves the 12 hours it takes to steam down the Chesapeake Bay... "

Well, really, it's >12 h, since vessels queue up to come & go @Cape Henry light, thru Lynnhaven Inlet. But after 12 yr battling the 13th cent. to a draw in Afghanistan, this does seem a lame, limp-wristed, & chasm-sphincter excuse to save money.

[ybnormal]

The thread is about the USNS Comfort. I'm sure that you could start a very spirited debate about other government waste -- elsewhere.

Let me get this straight, YOU bring up the subject of government waste, then proceed to tell me that discussing government waste doesn't belong in this article about USNS Comfort and should done elsewhere. What are you smoking...or do you just not like the fact that the government is wasting millions more on welfare fraud? Which is it? To me, it's obvious.

DOH!

[musicmd]

Let me get this straight, YOU bring up the subject of government waste, then proceed to tell me that discussing government waste doesn't belong in this article about USNS Comfort and should done elsewhere. What are you smoking...or do you just not like the fact that the government is wasting millions more on welfare fraud? Which is it? To me, it's obvious.

DOH!

Sprightly is correct DOH! USNS Comfort leaves Baltimore for final time, you call that goverment waste. LOL

[MDvet]

The military wastes millions of dollars every day.

That is why I have no problem with massive cuts to the military budget.

The Comfort is a prime example of military waste and of course the military answers to no one.

My guess, it was a Congressional involvement and not military's fault. Every time, the DoD wants to cut something, politicians get involved and prevent the military from making the cuts they want.

A likely scenario was that the Navy wanted to move Comfort to somewhere, MD Congressional delegation stopped it. Since Navy couldn't move Comfort, Navy had no choice but to invest in the infrastructure.

[sigmalady]

You call that wasteful? THIS is wasteful:

"Last month, the Senate Budget Committee reported that in fiscal year 2011, between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and other benefits, the average U.S. household below the poverty line received $168.00 a day in government support. What's the problem with that much support? Well, the median household income in America is just over $50,000, which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now pays the equivalent of $30.00 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average job pays $25.00 an hour."

Can you share the link for this information.?

[jessup270]

My guess, it was a Congressional involvement and not military's fault. Every time, the DoD wants to cut something, politicians get involved and prevent the military from making the cuts they want.

A likely scenario was that the Navy wanted to move Comfort to somewhere, MD Congressional delegation stopped it. Since Navy couldn't move Comfort, Navy had no choice but to invest in the infrastructure.

Waste still comes down to waste.