By Troy Turner
The U.S. Navy has awarded Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, a $16.7 million contract for a 102-calendar day shipyard availability to provide mid-term servicing of Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Comfort.
The Comfort is no stranger to Mobile, as it has become a common sight in recent years when time for a service call. Alabama Shipyard is a consistent contract-winner for the service with both the Comfort and its sister ship, USNS Mercy.
The ships provide mobile, acute surgical medical facilities when called upon by the U.S. military, and hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.
The Comfort is a 1,000-bed hospital ship commissioned in 1986, with a military cadre crew of approximately eight officers and 53 enlisted personnel, and a civilian mariner cadre crew of approximately 15 personnel when in a Reduced Operating Status, according to the Navy.
Alabama Shipyard is located at the mouth of the Mobile River and specializes in providing maintenance, repair, overhaul, conversion and shipbreaking services to commercial and government markets.
Work for the latest contract will be performed in Mobile beginning Jan. 15, 2026, and is expected to be completed by Apr. 26, 2026.
Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting agency.
Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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