USNS Comfort sails under the Navy’s Military Sealift Command.  The joint assembly of civilian and Navy doctors, nurses and medical technicians began receiving a few non-infected patients within days of arrival.  But with infections rising in April, the greater demand for Covid-19 ICU admissions around the metropolitan New York area suddenly transitioned Comfort from a trauma-only medical facility to a full fledged Covid-19 treatment center.  The 180 degree turn was smoothly and efficiently handled.

As the media covered politicians and CDC officials crying.  “Test, test, test!”, Chaplain Bravo was quick to attest the Navy world is all about “Train, train, train!”  Comfort swung into action.  Ventilators were uncrated, Personal Protective Equipment was unwrapped and skids of full-face respirator gear were lowered on deck by the Nightdippers helicopter squadron.  All the while, Comfort hospital staff carried out a mission that required flexibility and precision.

Comfort has a cadre of nurses that are specifically trained in accepting and admitting new patients onto the ship, a stressful and difficult task wielding the heavy ventilation equipment that accompanies the patient when they are transferred from the ambulance. Then, it is a long procession down the long corridors into the ICU.

A MIRACLE OR JUST ANOTHER DAY OF NAVY PREPAREDNESS?

USNS Comfort received official U.S. notification that it will no longer be required as a backup hospital facility here in New York Harbor.  Comfort treated 182 Covid-19 patients in total.  Twenty nine patients were released over the past two weeks.  The remaining patients were transferred back to local hospitals in New York and New Jersey.  The last recovering patient was transferred yesterday.  There were no Covid-19 deaths aboard Comfort.

Today, the ships’ medical rooms are silent, the blood laboratories have no new samples to test, and the Chaplains & doctors have no rounds to attend to.  Chaplain Bravo did have the opportunity to answer a few questions while the rest of the ship continued readiness for its departure later this week.

A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Today’s interview with Chaplain Bravo revealed his personal feelings about his service.  We learned of his constant use of PPE and following all CDC guidelines.  He encouraged patients and crew members to use the Zoom mobile app for Easter and Passover celebrations.  In the absence of a brick and mortar church, temple or mosque, he has no qualms practicing individual religious faith through any medium available.  Ultimately, Chaplain Bravo was happiest accompanying his recovered patients off the ship and walking them onto the Pier toward solid ground.

As he spoke from the ship, New York Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor DeBlasio both announced plans to slowly re-open facilities and businesses as Covid-19 hospitalizations and mortality rates decrease.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

As Comfort leaves New York Harbor, it will pass Governor’s Island.  On the port side, there will be a lone sailboat in an empty Brooklyn Marina.  The sailboat is called The Turning Point.  On a path similar to Comfort’s just three weeks earlier, it journeyed up the Easter Seaboard from Virginia.  But this time, the ship was occupied only by a husband and wife team.  It was Easter weekend.  Rachel Hartley, an ICU nurse who is working a 60 day stint at NYU Langone Hospital in Sunset Park Brooklyn will now take over where Comfort left off.  Along with a galley full of hospital workers, this crew will be living on the sailboat to fulfill their mission to aid New York’s Covid-19 patients.  As Comfort passes, the Chaplain will include Rachel and her crew in Comfort’s prayers.

A native of the Bronx, Johnny Bravo is a die-hard Yankee fan.  Uncertainty is hitting home in the heart of New York baseball.  He mulls over the reality that the season may not be up to speed until much later this summer.  It must be tough being a Yankees fan on this ship having a thousand other crew mates from the rest of the country who are baseball fans of other teams.

CHAPLAIN BRAVO’S BLESSING OF NEW YORK HARBOR

Johnny Bravo is a Comforter Aboard The Comfort.  Danielle Petito joined him in prayer for his blessing of New York Harbor.  He leaves behind a bitter sweet memory, but offers a positive message to all of us.

The hospital ship may leave as early as this Thursday, April 30th. A Sandy Hook Pilot will make the controls on the bridge as the McAllister tugboats help maneuver the ship out into open waters just beyond the Verrazzano Narrows.  The New York State flag will be lowered, folded and re-crated. Destination Norfolk Naval Station before it is dispatched to another region of the world where it is needed once again.

CAN YOU SUGGEST THE MISSION NAME FOR USNS COMFORT’S DEPLOYMENT TO NYC?

When Danielle interviewed Commander Amersbach and asked him if Comfort’s mission to NYC had a name?  Chaplain Bravo said he knows what name he would use but deferred divulgement.  “I believe it is either up to the Captain or up to the public to give it a name.” he said.  From what we can gather, it is our understanding the Captain is also open to suggestions.  If you would like, we invite all of our readers to offer a name of your own.  NYHC will pass it along and see how far it gets.

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Due to the size and depth of the USNS Comfort, US Navy Meteorologists and Oceanographers prepared the weather forecast and the underwater topographic maps.  Logistics were already in motion well before the ship’s departure from Norfolk Naval Operations Base.

Back in New York Harbor, Donjon Marine, a local dredging company, was permitted to deepen the harbor for safe transit and docking at Pier 90 Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Monday morning, the Sandy Hook Launch was waiting.  Captain Tim Ferrie was on board. He cautiously ascended ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ at the Ambrose Station meeting point in the New York Bight.

The Sandy Hook pilot delivers the Flag of New York State that was unfurled above the Comfort as it entered New York Harbor.

At the helm of USNS Comfort, alongside Commander Patrick Amersbach and Captain Andrew Lindey, Tim Ferrie wore his mask in the face of COVID-19 precaution.

A salute from the New York Harbor flotilla accompanied the hospital ship up the Hudson River into Berth 4 of the Marine Terminal.

The configuration of the Navy Hospital ship was not unfamiliar to Captain Ferrie. Both USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy are converted super-tankers. Similar specifications to many other tankers that a routinely enter New York Harbor carrying oil. This was another delivery in the hundreds of deliveries the Sandy Hook pilots make every day and every night.

Captain Ferrie was presented with the traditional Navy Challenge Coin by Commander Amersbach.  New York Harbor Channel applauds all the members of the Sandy Hook Pilot Association.

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Here in New York, Captain Nitzan Levy is offering her expertise to promote initiatives focusing on young women who have an interest in learning to sail in New York’s waters.  Nitzan, a social entrepreneur who started her cruising club in the NY Harbor 7 years ago actively participates as a competitive sailor.  She is no stranger to off-shore sailing regattas.

Nitzan has been influenced by many women before her and she will be celebrating some of their efforts in this month’s series on Women Who Sail. For one, Tracy Edwards will be recognized this month in a series of interviews published over the next eight weeks.

Tracy Edwards’ all-female crew of Maiden won her a berth in the history books.  The 2019 documentary, ‘Maiden’ poignantly depicts the story of how Tracy found the yacht, assembled the crew, and endured the race as a finalist in the Whitbread Around the World Race in 1989.  Her passion is worthy of inclusion as a celebrated sports representative.

Nitzan and the New York Harbor Channel preludes the arrival of The Maiden Factor to New York Harbor.  You can learn more about Tracy Edward’s history and new foundation by following us here.

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A genuine giant “friend of the sea” and maritime world has passed.  I am celebrating and mourning Clive Cussler’s passing. He was ahead of his time before ocean ecology became a “thing.”  He investigated old sinking of civil war vessels, fishing boats and other mysteries. Driven by his novels and through high level friends in the NSA he was able to bring hi-tech US Government GPS stuff to his research and hunt for the Civil War Merrimack/Monitor and the Hunley in Hampton Roads, VA, before it was available to the public.  Cussler was an expert about the oceans, seas and those who literally went down to the sea.

A great novelist. His intensity often misunderstood.  As he was also a brilliant publicist as well.  However, he really knew his stuff.  His colleague, Author & former NSA scientist/researcher, Derrick Goodwin, who later wrote Just Killing Time brought me on board with Clive. Clive was passionate and gracious.  I was honored to work with him briefly.

Clive’s inscription on the front page of his 1984 novel, DEEP SIX.

“Jonathan: A super pal who’s put up with an old derelict like me.  Many thanks for your friendship and all the super things you’ve done for me.  Your pal, Clive Cussler.” July 1984.

Please visit Jonathan Atkin’s websites:

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New York Waterway started service crossing the Hudson River in 1986.  It’s founder was Arthur E. Imperatore and the family continues to run the company today from its headquarters at Port Imperial in Weehawken, N.J.  Ferry service in New York Harbor has quickly grown to be a reliable transportation option.

There are nine ferry operators that run designated routes around the harbor.  The Staten Island Ferry is the oldest and largest in passenger volume serving twenty five million riders a year.  As New York Waterway maintains a fleet that runs routes primarily from New Jersey to Manhattan it is rivaled by the Hornblower organization operating twenty seven vessels under the NYC Ferry banner on the East Side of Manhattan connecting Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to its main hub at Pier 11 on Wall Street.  Hornblower aggregate ridership data indicates approximately two hundred thousand passengers a week.

Travelers and commuters are encouraged to find the ferry schedules in the NYHC link for up to the minute timetables.

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Nitzan is the founder and director of Sailors NYC.  She started the company to offer both veteran sailors and novices alike to learn the ropes of sailing and ultimately join as a crew member.  Nitzan was interested in contributing her personal stories for our May event that celebrated Walt Whitman’s 200th Birthday.  Being a hard-working, hands-on mariner, with much experience of navigating the waters of New York Harbor, Nitzan’s enthusiasm is captured in this recorded audio clip.

 

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2018 EVENTS IN EUROPE

Greta is herself a model of how every citizen of this planet should live and behave.  ‘Leaving the smallest possible carbon footprint’ is her motto. It is no secret that her initiative, #FridaysForFuture, has bolstered student strikes around the world.  She has personally taken the year off from school to accomplish her mission, protesting against inactive and ineffective governments.  Her credentials as a soft-spoken global citizen need no hard copy resume.  She has already sat before the highest level political leaders talking one on one about climate change.

GRETA IS GREETED BY THE UNITED NATIONS’ FLOTILLA

Waiting for Malizia II to enter New York Harbor, Greta was greeted by a flotilla of 17 sailboats, each representing one of the 17 “sustainable development goals” established by the U.N. General Assembly.  Captain Nitzan Levy helped organize the colorful event, signaling to the world that the home of the United Nations was ready to embrace every measure to save our planet.

New York Harbor and its proud residents rolled out its welcome mat inviting the global ambassador to our shores.  The various efforts such as the Federal Government’s ‘Clean Water Act’ fifty years ago have proven to curb water pollution and increase public awareness to making New York Harbor a sustainable, healthy, and prolific marine environment.  More recently, smaller initiatives, such as the ‘Billion Oyster Project‘, have also impacted the return of native marine species to New York Harbor.

Earlier this year, Nitzan spoke to NYHC about the cleanliness of New York Harbor for our May 11th Event that celebrated the 200th Birthday of Walt Whitman who we could safely say was Greta’s equal in the 19th Century.  Measured by this week’s yardstick, Greta will quickly surpass any previous public speaker in popularity.

Wearing a windbreaker bearing the tagline, “Unite Behind The Science”, the 16 year old sailor immediately took to the microphone to address the media and raised up her faithful original hand-painted poster that reads “Skolstrejk for Klimatet”.   Thunberg’s goal is to limit global warming to a maximum 1.5 degree celsius increase.  Curbing greenhouse gases and carbon emissions as outlined in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.  “The window is closing fast” for the earth to avoid an environmental disaster.

GRETA MEETS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, DC

Taking only a few days off to recover from her ocean journey, Greta immediately resumed her schedule to meet with Barrack Obama in his Washington D.C. office.  After the visit, former President Obama affirmed on his twitter page that Greta was ‘one of our planet’s greatest advocates’.

Thunberg demonstrated in front of the White House and joined other school-age teenagers on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. to offer her voice in support of their lawsuit against the government for “climate inaction”.  Jamie Margolin, founder of This Is Zero Hour, accuse lawmakers of complicity with corporations who encourage dependancy on fossil fuels.  Greta’s success is marked by the incredible number of offshoot organizations created by other teens all around the world.

On September 18th, Thunberg continued her mission to meet and address the ‘people in power’ as she visited Congress and met with Senator Edward Markey, sponsor of the Green New Deal.at a panel discussion. “I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the scientists!” resounds as one of Greta’s cries before lawmakers.  Greta’s plea has quickly gained supporters especially after her 2018 speech at the Poland 2018 U.N. conference.  In her native country, Sweden’s Parliament is all too familiar with her protests.

Friday, September 20th, Thunberg was back in New York City speaking at a demonstration gathered in front of the Federal Building at Foley Square.  It is now on record this day had the largest turnout of supporters in history with 2,500 groups from 169 countries totaling an estimated four million people.   Regardless of the actual numbers, her influence has sparked a flame among teenagers that will only grow larger moving forward.

THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2019 AND ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General had this to say, “Young people around the world are demanding urgent climate action by all leaders.  They are leading the kind of transformative change needed to drastically reduce carbon emissions to protect our planet and ensure the well being of people.

The UN is proud to host hundreds of young activists and leaders, including Greta, who are answering the Secretary-General’s call to bring solutions to the Youth Climate and the Climate Action Summits.  Our individual and collective actions will transform our world, save lives and ensure a life of dignity for all”.

THE FUTURE

Plans for Greta’s journey to the next U.N. function in Santiago, Chile this December have not yet been revealed.  Mr. Herrmann has offered his services to get her there by boat.  No doubt, Greta’s ride will feature a carbon-neutral vessel, using no fuel unless for an emergency, maximum speed, and cabin accommodations certainly not for comfort.  How she plans to get back home have not been discussed; however, it is safe to assume she will not be flying.

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Sailors are happy to talk about home towns, ship assignments, and future aspirations.  NYHC conducted interviews on each vessel where deployment and missions were discussed.  The overriding message is the fleet’s pledge to protect country, mariners, and ocean mammals.

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