The Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS) is a cost-effective design for a dedicated medical ship optimized to provide patient holding, stabilization, evacuation and transport in support of Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO). The EMS design features a shallow draft which enables greater reach and allows for direct access to austere ports. The flight deck will accommodate military aircraft, including the V-22 and H-53K.
The design provides the full range of medical capabilities needed to support operating forces including; primary surgery, intensive/ward care, burn care, patient isolation capabilities, medical laboratory services, blood bank, mental health, records management, and rapid stabilization with the ability for follow-on evacuation of multiple casualties. In addition to medical services, the platform also is capable of combat search and rescue including recovery at sea. It also offers capacity for future growth and capability enhancements.
Primary Mission
To support forward deployed forces within the full range of operations including combat operations support. As a forward deployed medical ship, the EMS provides rapid responsive sea-based and near-shore Role 2 Enhanced level care. The EMS design is also optimized for at-sea personnel recovery from damaged ships — a critical capability for potential engagements at sea under the DMO concept.
Secondary Mission
To provide a dedicated platform supporting continuous engagement activities. The shallow draft and maneuverability of the EMS allows the ship to pull into smaller shallower ports and small island nations inaccessible to larger and/or less maneuverable ships. This capability increases the number of reachable and treatable patients and improves the value of the engagement.
Capabilities
- Dedicated platform providing Role 2E level of care
- Interior ramp and deck arrangement optimized for trauma patient flow
- Extended range to support response, combat, and rapid patient transport operations with less refueling
- Shallow draft enabling access to austere and degraded ports and offload sites
- Large flight deck to facilitate load/unload of V-22 and CH-53 aircraft
- Organic combat search and rescue capability
- Boat operations with an 11m RHIB (expandable to two); patient transfer from other surface vessels or direct recovery from water
- Extended width gangway ramps on port and starboard sides for improved patient movement when in port
- Onboard oxygen generation and extensive medical storage space to support 20 day patient movement and medical resupply of other ships
