US Navy Hospital Ships Under Repair in Alabama + AES Data Center Deal
U.S. Navy Hospital Ships Undergoing Maintenance in Alabama as New Vessels Approach Completion
– Both of the United States Navy’s hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort, are currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, a situation marking the first time the vessels have been moored alongside each other for maintenance in three decades, according to the shipyard’s announcement on January 23.
The USNS Mercy arrived at the Alabama Shipyard for a year-long maintenance period beginning in July 2025, departing San Diego on July 17, 2025. The $18.7 million contract for the Mercy includes a 153-calendar day shipyard availability, with options that could increase the total value to nearly $19 million. Work is expected to be completed by December 14, 2025. The USNS Comfort had previously received similar maintenance contracts at the same shipyard.
The two ships, each capable of holding 1,000 patient beds and equipped with 12 fully-equipped operating rooms, are the most capable afloat medical platforms in the U.S. Navy fleet. They are operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and can be activated within five days to support missions.
The USNS Mercy has a recent history of deployments supporting humanitarian efforts. It participated in the Pacific Partnership 2024 mission and was deployed to Los Angeles during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients. The ship also made stops in Palau and the Philippines during the Pacific Partnership 2024 mission.
While the Mercy and Comfort are undergoing maintenance, the U.S. Navy is preparing to introduce a new class of hospital ships. Three Bethesda-class Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) are currently under construction by Austal USA, with the lead vessel, USNS Bethesda (T-EMS-1), scheduled for delivery by December 2026.
The Bethesda-class ships represent a significant advancement in afloat medical capabilities. They are designed to travel at speeds exceeding 30 knots – nearly double the 17.5-knot top speed of the Mercy and Comfort – and their shallow draft of 4.5 meters will allow them to access ports inaccessible to the larger, legacy hospital ships. While equipped with 4 operating rooms and 124 medical beds, the Bethesda class is designed for rapid surgical stabilization rather than long-term hospital care, complementing the capabilities of the Mercy and Comfort.
The maintenance of the Mercy and Comfort, coupled with the introduction of the Bethesda-class EMS, signifies a continued investment in the U.S. Navy’s ability to provide medical support during combat operations, disaster relief and humanitarian missions worldwide. Since 2001, the Mercy and Comfort have collectively impacted the lives of over 580,000 individuals through these types of missions.
Adding another layer to the current naval landscape, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy a hospital ship to Greenland on January 23, citing concerns about illness and access to care in the region. This announcement has placed these vessels at the center of U.S. Foreign policy and military planning in 2026.