MSC call to action: Hurricane Katrina relief

By Katie Dunnigan

Whether going to war or dealing with the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, Military Sealift Command delivers. One-third of the U.S. Navy ships that provided relief support in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were MSC ships. Baltimore-based hospital ship USNS Comfort was activated and underway to the U.S. Gulf Coast in record time. Other MSC ships already in the area quickly began to help the New Orleans community.

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Fuel, food, beds, water

Fast sealift ships USNS Pollux and USNS Altair provided food, fuel and water to the New Orleans area and hotel services to several first-responders to the crisis.

After riding out the hurricane pierside in New Orleans, Pollux began providing air-conditioned berthing to National Guard personnel, FEMA workers, U.S. Army personnel, local police and state relief workers. The ship offered workers meals, laundry services and a place to shower. In just one week, Pollux provided more than 220,000 gallons of much needed diesel fuel.

"Even a week after the storm our diesel supply is critical to the area," said Capt. Robert Lansden, Pollux's master. "Our diesel has been distributed all over the New Orleans metro region to power pumping stations, hospitals, water treatment plants, emergency shelters, the National Guard, emergency command centers, firefighters, U.S. naval bases and the New Orleans Aquarium and Zoo."

Pollux also offered a platform for dialysis machines when local hospitals lost power and water. For several days after the storm, hospitals had no water - a requirement for dialysis machine operation. Patients were driven to the ship by local ambulances and were able to receive life-saving dialysis on board.

"The CEO of the hospital came over and thanked us," said Capt. Lansden. "He said if we had not housed and fed many of his doctors and nurses, many would have been forced to leave."

Pollux's mariners showed tremendous compassion and creativity in their efforts. On their own initiative, crew members constructed a pipeline to more effectively off-load diesel fuel that enabled large FEMA trucks to refuel. Pollux Chief Engineer Chris Wallace repaired the New Orleans Aquarium to help save the rare species of fish that survived the storm. Working with aquarium staff, he repaired a broken air compressor to oxygenate the water.

"God blessed us to be here and to have the crew and the skill to ride out the storm," said Capt. Lansden. "and by having the command structure under Vice Adm. Brewer and the U.S. Navy to approve and support our ideas for immediate humanitarian response to the people in the New Orleans area devastated by Hurricane Katrina."

"I am very proud of all 23 members of this crew and their dedication to give 100 percent to serve people," continued Capt. Lansden. "It can clearly be said … that never have so few mariners done so much for so many."

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Comfort en route

Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort left her berth in Baltimore on Sept. 2, after a remarkably fast activation that began only a few days earlier. The ship, usually kept in reduced operating status with a cadre crew and a small contingent of military medical personnel, was officially called into action on Aug. 31. The ship was crewed, provisioned and ready to get underway well before her five-day readiness window.

The ship left Baltimore loaded with 245,000 pounds of supplies and about 270 personnel aboard. After a brief stop in Mayport, Fla., to load $3 million in medical supplies and take on 300 more medical crew members, Comfort quickly headed to the Gulf region and began providing relief in the Pascagoula, Miss., area.

Underway replenishment

Other MSC ships were also on station providing support. Fast combat support ship USNS Arctic was underway providing food, fuel and supplies to the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan. Fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent relieved Arctic Sept. 11.

Contract Expertise

MSC also chartered four cruise ships on behalf of FEMA to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The ships began housing relief workers and their families in New Orleans the second week of September. The contract calls for the ships to provide berths for a period of up to seven months.