Comfort Returns To Mobile

The U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Comfort passes Gaillard Island on its way into the port of Mobile the morning of JAN 22 2026. Moving at 13 mph, the ship finishes a six day voyage that began from Comfort’s homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, VA.

Comfort’s arrival at Alabama Shipyard is part of a $16.7 million dollar contract the Navy awarded for service and maintenance. The ship is no stranger to Mobile, having visited previously to have work done.

Comfort joins sister ship USNS Mercy which arrived at the shipyard in July, 2025 for a year’s worth of maintenance. The work about to start on Comfort is expected to be finished in late April.

Commissioned in 1986, the 1,000 bed Comfort provides mobile surgical care and hospital services when called upon for disaster relief or humanitarian operations anywhere in the world. During its current Reduced Operating Status, the ship carries around fifteen civilian personnel, but will have about eight officers with more than fifty enlisted personnel aboard during activations.

Comfort and Mercy are operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command.

Photo shot from Point Clear, roughly 5.5 miles away…