Phoenix Lighting Helps Retrofit USNS Comfort in New York City Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Local lighting company helping retrofit USNS Comfort in New York City amid coronavirus pandemic
MILWAUKEE — A local lighting company is retrofitting a floating hospital in New York City with lights to help crews battle against COVID-19.
Phoenix Lighting in Milwaukee has worked with the United States Navy since the 1970s. However, when the USNS Comfort was called to New York City to provide an extra 1,000 medical beds, the Navy came calling for help from Phoenix.
“They said we need this now and we need it today,” Caitlin Dunckel, Strategic Sales Manager for the Maritime Team said. “It’s for security reasons so nobody can come close to the vessels because it’s lit up like the Fourth of July.”
The current lights were provided by Phoenix Lighting, but they were heavier, less energy efficient and costly.
“You have to replace the bulbs pretty frequently in those,” Dunckel said. “Which is just one more person, doing one more chore, having one more thing to worry about. This relieves those extra duties of having to change out those bulbs.”
The Navy teamed up with Phoenix for better security lighting after the USS Cole was attacked by terrorists in 2002. The new LED lights will provide visibility for at least 30 feet all around the ship. As an example of how well these lights work, the Capitol building in Madison is lit up every night by similiar lights.
