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_PLEASE EMAIL US & INTRODUCE YOURSELF_
(For More Detailed Info)
We have room for you whether as a promoter, investor or operator.
Please make contact & introduce yourself for more info!
Our Mission Statement:
Access to
an entire range of women’s wellness health care
is becoming unavailable because of southern states brutal attitudes,
policies
& laws, endangering the health & even the lives of
women in the entire
Gulf region. Our goal is to facilitate that access
via an offshore clinic on a classic
cruise ship…& do so
confidentially and at rates lower than land-based clinics. Won’t you be
part of
the plan?
AUDIO
INTRO by AVA*
AUDIO INTRO by AVA*
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Freedom
Dawning is a non-profit, New Mexico entity. This website, project
& information is ©2024 Freedom Dawning, Quest Consultants
& OSoifer Request permission to reconvey, corpy
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MARINER
MEDICAL WOMEN'S WELLNESS CLINIC INTRODUCTION:
The
Mariner Medical plan is launch & operate a maritime clinic in
int'l waters
(out of reach of US & State authorities/courts) to provide
strictly
confidential, comprehensive women's "wellness" health care +5
days/week over a repeating 21-day itinerary (...14 days w/o Florida)
covering
the virtually the entire US Gulf coast. Follow-up exams will be
available at
multiple stops, when needed.
The
clinic will share space on a classic ship, offering the only cruise
services
along the entire Gulf, along with a jaunt to Mexico, to a lucky few
pampered
retail guests.
To
enable a 5-day staff work-week, 2 stops will be at half staff level. As
a ship
tenant, the clinic has no hotel or maritime operational / legal duties
or
responsibility. Facilities will be those of a full clinic, including
exam/surgical
procedure/recovery & mammography rooms; plus lab, pharmacy
& more. The
ship's dining room (open to all) is immediately adjacent to the clinic,
which
is 1 deck below the spacious ship lounge.
Anticipated
daily capacity is about patients/day, based on the facilities &
an equal
number (6) of doctors & nurses on duty, plus lab &
other staff.
Standard services to include: Wellness Exam, mammogram PAP &
other lab
tests for all; dispensing of medication abortion tablets &/or
vaccinations,
as appropriate; plus up to 2 early trimester surgical or other
procedures/day
in each of the 2 ambulatory surgical rooms;. Space will be available to
house a
limited numbers of patients for up to a weekif their post-procedure or
other
circumstance warrants it.
To
be able to maximize ability to claim full clinic status (vs being
branded an
"abortion clinic"), all patients receive full a "Well
Women" exam, incl. a
mammogram & PAP test.
Controversial services will not be discussed or scheduled except
onboard,
between patient and doctor.
Patients fees are mostly inclusive, (incl lab expense, outside lab consults, F&B/amenities), only excl a $60 R/T ferry cost...well under land-based medical charges. Compare Mariner to Mercy Ships, that perform less than half the anticipated annual Mariner Medical patients, with costs 5 time higher than projected for Mariner...but whose staff staffers work for free (& even contribute to R&B cost). Our staff compensation will exceed average US maritime wages, ans include uniform, travel & certification allowances: a contract-completion bonus for 6-month contracts; & primarily the same R&B & amenities as Retail Cruisers.
Thanks for visiting our website. We hope you will join us in launching this service. If you haven't done so, please listen to Ava'aaudion introduction, and then you are invited to peruse the extensive info availabe herein; as well aato register & view the even more extensive project plans.
To
view an extensive project summary flipbook, please register
by email.
Then click HERE
or the pictures below,
& enter the password
provided
SUMMARY POLICIES & CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:
Accepting
that
there is a definite need for an offshore women’s health facility,
because of
(particularly Southern US states’) restrictions
on women’s care, the following
summarizes the major mandates
that MUST be met to establish the
facility; to remedy
the multitude
of issues hindering its establishment; &
to assure its success & ensure its security from outside
intervention.
Though not an inclusive list, here are the major
critieria items that
must be met to secure the best chances for initial &
continuing enterprise
success:
- The
$20MM
cost & 1 year lead time to establish an offshore women’s clinic
quoted by other promoters was determined to be unacceptable and yet, to
meet the host-vessel mandates, was actually likely to be inadequate if
the target vessel is a new, or the total reconfigured non-passenger,
US-built vessel;** It
turns out that the suggested host vessel is the
ONLY existing US-built passenger vessel that meets
all requirements for cost & compliance. Unfortunately,
nothing was heard of that plan more than 1.5 years ater is was announced, prompting
work on this proposal. Fortunalely,
the vessel is in current compliance
with all US Coast Guard
& internationsal (IMO SOLAS
& MARPOL) environmental & safety standard
that applybeyond the 12 mile limit.
- A 3 nautical mile buffer is inadequate for various reasons (ie: relatively easy access for patients also means easy access to anti-abortion fanatics or states that could attack or seize the vessel; Federal limitations remaining that would limit sources of affordable drug & equipment & subject the vessel to Federal Court jurisdiction, etc) Plus, the state jurisdiction of TX & FL, in the Gulf of Mexico, extends to 9NM, not 3NM; and those states might not hesitate to lie about the location of the vessel, there not being “mile markers” on the water! But, it is important to note that the USCG absolutely does not enforce state law, & certainly not beyond the US 12 mile limit. Hence the crucial criterium that the ship operate outside of the US Federal Zone,
- The
promoter of these operations has already secured import
sources for the clinic FF&E & supplies that halves the
US cost of same (...a saving of close to $1MM).
- The only feasible service area is the relatively calm Gulf of Mexico, because servicing the anti-abortion Atlantic Coastal states would make egress & embarkation to the vessel dangerous. It would also require a very large, unaffordable vessel to provide the range, stability & safety needed to handle the large service area.
- For legal and security reasons, the ship should be owned by an independant entity which leases the vessel to the maritime operating entity (at a rent equal to the primary debt service, which entity will, in turn, rent the clinic & clinic staff space to a separate, foreign-registered entity, for an amount equal to half of that debt service cost, plus per-room & hospitality fees including food service to the clinic, for its staff & patients.
- To ensure successful operations, every effort must be made toensure superlative service at inclusive rates that are below land-based &/or competing/equivalent operations..
- **Because
of US laws limiting access to serial US ports by foreign vessels, the
ship must be US-built, flagged & crewed, even if it never docks
within the US; and even if it does not venture closer to shore than the
12-24NM “Contiguous Zone”.**
At the same time, the wages paid to US-based medical & maritime
crew, and retail cruise fares need to be competitive, while also
keeping clinic charges competitive with land-based clinic services.
- The
vessel must meet international safety & environmental laws;
must be able to adapt to changing “green” laws that will tend to raise
its operating costs; and it must have an extended range to minimize the
frequency of refueling & reprovisioning, as it will be forced
to refuel outside of the US (because anti-abortion states that will not
hesitate to seize the vessel if it ventures within their jurisdiction,
even if the clinic closes (like casino ships) when docked. The ship
cannot hope to be secure from illegal “police powers” attempted while
on state waters.
- So that the maritime operation can meet IMO requirements, one doctor and one nurse should receive minimal surpay to serve as onboard medical staff for the maritime crew & retail cruise passengers.
- While the retail cruise operation will have no competion for equivalent itineraries, every effort must be made to attract guests by provididing superlative personal service at rates that are competitive with other upscale small cruise operations, and which, to the extent possible, are inclusive of things like tips, etc.
- In order to be able to attract the maritime crew & medical staffers in competition with other vessels, employee wages & incentives (tips, uniforms, training, travel, contract completion bonus, etc) should exceed maritime aver compensation. Similarly, to attract investor/lenders, promotors &/or originators, the project will not be considered feasible unless it can pay out adequate commissions and loan rates higher than what is considered conventional for business lending.
- So that adequate operating reserves are in place for both the clinic and maritime operating entities, engagement fees should be charged, but with the bulk of the fees loaned back to the entities under a provision that the loaned funds are to be used specifically for operations rather than distribution as profits or other payouts to partners, etc.
- Because of the appropriateness of periodic rehabs of the vessel, as well as the international mandate for periodic drydocks, the operations must provide for adequate reserves to cover these costs.
- The
medical facilities should include an onboard pharmacy & lab, to
minimize the need to interface with outside facilities. In addition,
to facilitate operations, some nirses should have
training in anesthesiology & lab procedures as appropriate.
- The
size of the vessel required to provide a reasonable level of staff and
service will make it subject to a huge web of US &
international safety & environmental regulations, even if
operating only in international waters. These will mandate a maritime
& hospitality crew at more than twice the size & cost
of the clinic staff. It is inconceivable that a medical group &
staff could affordably or quickly master the multitude of maritime
regulations and management skills necessary for safe, certified, clean
and efficient operation of this vessel.
- Thus,
to be able to cover costs & provide security to patients
& passengers, the vessel must host both maritime &
clinic operators, which must be entirely separate entities (…w/ the
clinic, leasing space & hospitality services from the
ship-owner.)
- As
an additional security measure, the clinic needs to provide
full women’s health services (vs being solely an abortion clinic)
& must be price competitive w/ land-based service and travel.
In fact, the ostensible reason for everyone boarding the vessel must be
for a mandatory full Wellness Exam or as (daily or extended) cruise
guests. Boarding passes or receipts for the ferry transit
should only refer to the day pass on the ship &/or, at most,
the medical exam.
- The
specific justification for the clinic must be that it helps to remedy
the paucity of womens health services in the southern states, by virtua
of hondreds of womens clinics & rural hospitals closing. The US
is considered the most dangerous of industrialized countries in which
to be pregnant. Women of color are 4 times mere likely to die from
pregnancy than white women. The southern states equate multiple
procedures with voluntary abortions, prohibiting them even when a
women's heath or life is at rish. These states do not acknowledge that
nearly 50% of conceptions, naturally, do no result in a live birth of a
viable infant. In addition, the clinic is further justified by the
1974/85 UN Conventions Against Torture (to which the US is a
signatory), that equate forced pregnancy with torture.:
- It
should be obvious that the Women on Waves operation of docking to pick
up patients, for whom only medication abortion services are available,
is an unworkable concept for the US. Complete confidentiality is a
must, as it cannot be certain that the sourthen states will
not institute a reporting & rewards systems (as TX has done) to
turn in women who have had, or traveled for, medical services their
states forbid. On top of that, ship to ship personnel transfers are
among the most dangerous of maritime activities. Hence, the
only safe means to get people on and of the clinic ship is via a ferry
specifically modified to facilite safe transfers on a daily basic.
- In addition, it is almost certain that structuring the operation as a charity,will doom it to fail...and, in fact, such a path is unnecessary if the clinic rates beat those of land-based clinics, & provide extra & exemplary service for a lower cost. The reasoning being that, if structured properly, the fair profits & incentives for all parties will bring in the startup capital.
- In
contrast, as a charity, not only must the initial required capital be
raised, but an estimated $10MM will have to be begged for every year.
It is an impossible situation, especialy since there's every reason
to presume that third party
non-profits (ie: planned Parenhood, etc) will
be willing to pay for fair-priced services. In
addition, without the actual vessel in mind,
as well as an intimately detailed business
plan with pro foamas & full operational details funding is
virtually impossible.
- To
estimate demand for services, it was assumed that potential patients
will travel as much as 2 hours to their ferry port, plus a half-hour
ferry to the clinic vessel, versus traveling as much as 1,000 miles to
a liberal state. So the populations in thosee areas was estimated....&
based only actual abortion
figures (ignoring the general scarcity of women's
clinics) the demand forservices points to a figure of 10-20
times the capacity of theproposed host ship.
- To
assure the most itinerary service points with a full day of clinic
service, it is assumed that each must be within a 12 hour (overnight)
sail of the previous anchorage. (Because the likely daily demand for
banned services is over 10 times the daily capacity of the clinic,
overlaps of these coverage areas overlap is OK.)
- Special
pains must be taken, including superlative service, unique excursions
& inclusive pricing must be taken in order to satisfy the
retail cruise passengers who will be transiting on a cruise ship that
is perpetually at sea.
- The
vessel needs to be able to affordably evert to all retail cruise use,
or int’l clinic service if ever demand for US medical service drops to
a point that the clinic is not self-sustaining.
PRO FORMA, PROPOSED SCHEDULE & CONCEPTUAL FLOORPLAN
Mariner Medical FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About this Project
Target
for the services:: The
intent is to
provide, affordable, confidential, comprehensive, health services
topatients
from within a two-hour drive and half-hour ferry ride of nearly the
entire US
gulf coast, from Fort Myers, FL to Brownsville, TX.
Where
will the actual
services be provided:
Service will be accomplished via the
clinic-ship transiting between 9-10 approximately equally spaced venues
that
are within international waters, approximately 12 miles offshore, with
patients
transiting to&
from the ship by a
company-owned ferry.
What
services will be
available:
Complete wellness health to women (&, upon
request, men) that will always include a full health
&
reproductive examination, Pap test, mammography, STD &
other blood
& urine tests; with sonograms, contraceptive services,
inoculations &
other drug dispensing, medication/surgical reproductive services
& more.
Clinic/Ship
Components:
In
addition to addition to staff quarters & some patient rooms,
this complete
clinic will include: multiple exam & surgical rooms, a lab,
offices, store
& break rooms. The retail operation will serve over 70 guests,
with cabins,
lounge, restaurant, sun deck, etc. When previously operating as a
cruise ship,
it was rate over 3.5 stars, etc.
Why make this proposal, when others have done so? While well-intentioned, the other proposals, more or less “knee-jerk” reactions to the dismembering of Roe v Wade, failed to conceive a plan that was actually “doable”: Valuable but affordable, confidential, operationally practical, safe & secure for patients & operators, as well as able to be quickly implemented.
How will the instant promter profit: This
proposal is not being sold in the traditionsl sense. Nor is the
promoter expeting to bea partner with the clinic or maritime operators.
Rather, the promoter will receive the normal commisons on the funding,
vessel & equipment sales, engagement fees, business advisory
services, etc.
What
about operating in the Federal zone, less than 12 miles out?
Operating within the 12-mile Federal limit
leaves the ship vulnerable to lawsuits brought in Federal court, even
though most lawsuits would have not basis, and the vessel could be
subject to
potential search & seizure. Plus, transit time to the ship
would be over an
hour, in a boat unlikely to have proper navigation equipment, which
is impractical & dangerous. The clinic equipment
& medications
would also have to be from US sources, & comply with dozens of
Federal regulations, at 2-10 times the cost of
imports.
Sadly,
that other proposals
have not been implemented more the 2.5 years after they were proposed
is
evidence of their weaknesses and the clinic would be limited to
government
imposed specifications, etc.
What is the idea behind charging engagment fees & then loaning them back? The engagement fees, representing about 1/3 of the project costm sove the issue of investor-lenders never funding 100% of a project's cost. Together with good collateral value, & justiiably adequat income projections, as well as above-market interest rates, funding becomes very likely. On the other hand, lending back most of the engagement fees, to be used solely as operating reserves, also boosts underwriting chances. And, it means the operations don't have to be "run on a shoe-string" at the time of startup. In effect, this policy forces the operators to have adequate reserves at the time of launch.
What is proposed for the ferry when the main vessel proceeds to Tampico for refueling & reprovisioning? As the ship can dock in Tampico, there is no reason for the ferry to accompany it after its visit to the Bownsville service venue. Budgetting presumes that the ferry & its 3-4 person crew will remain behind in Brownsville, and live onboaard there, (with them provided with meals allowances) to await return of the ship in about 3 days. Whatever ferry is acquired must, in that regard, have full sleeping and bath facilities for the crew.
Can the subject porposed host ship be toured? It is possible to tour it at its current layup location in the southern US. However, videos are also available, as are great reviews from cruise passengers in it last incarnation as a full cruise vessel...rated over 3.5 stars by passeegers who did not favor the mobbed environment of today's "megaships".
What was involved in devising this plan? In deriving the
Mariner Medical plan, scores of project solutions (some noted herein)
conflicted with each other and, as noted, resolving those conflicts was
like a
game of “whack-a-mole” that took over a
year. In
the end a comprehensive plan was conceived that meets the above
requirements,
including a 60-day implementation and a cost less than half others
anticipated..
.What
are
some of the issues we think other planners failed to anticipate?
It
is presumed
that the Women
on Waves operation in Europe was
the idea source for other proposals. But that operation provides
nothing but
“abortion pills”, almost certainly to
less than 10% of
Mariner Medicals presumed capacity. WoW
also enters
ports to pick up & drop off patients which, as noted below,
would be
extremely risky to accomplish in the US. As
noted elsewhere, It was decided that operating the vessel like an
offshore casino ship, which just closes ship" when in port would
NOT work, nor can the clinic & maritime operating entities be one
& the same.
To
avoid the
risk of a state seizing the ship,
or other risk from the
neighboring states, a Gulf coast clinic ship must operate beyond the
state’s
maritime limit. But, the normal 3-mile Gulf state limit is 9 miles for
TX &
FL. Plus, the numerous Federal regulations,
that would
still apply up to 12 miles offshore would impose crippling costs
&
liabilities including the potential for lawsuits brought in Federal
Courts.
Hence, operations must be confined
to
international waters.
Terrorist
Danger: Plus,
if a non-mariner could reach the ship in a small boat, it would be ulnerable to attack by fanatics
opposed to the ship’s
operations, especially if it is advertised specifically as an abortion
clinic.
Patient
Transit Danger:
It
would be dangerous for the average desperate patient to rent a boat
& motor
to transit to 9-12 miles back & forth in the Gulf.
And,
the potential for 80
boats to be transferring patients to and from it on a daily
basis, than
anchoring in deep water while the patient is receiving service is among
the
most dangerous of maritime activities.
Even
if operated in
international waters,
a ship capacity of over 12 requires
compliance with multiple IMO, SOLAS & environmental
regulations, plus
maritime training for all crew members
even if
having no patient contact. The practical & technical skills
required are
far beyond those possessed by a bunch of doctors & nurses. And,
the cost to
maintain the maritime & hospitality crew, and feed the staff,
will double
the operational costs.
Operating
in the manner of a
gambling ship
that merely locks up the casino when in port
where gambling is not legal, would not
work.
No-one could guarantee that the ship is not seized, & medical
staffers
arrested, when in port even if the clinic was closed then. Hence, the
ship must
be fueled or provisioned beyond the risky states…which means outside of
the US,
because no US state without abortion bans is within range. And that
means
having a range much greater than the average ship candidate. In
addition,
provisioning must be
facilitated, since the ship
can’t dock to pick up supplies either.
Why
not run this as a
non-profit, clinic only operation:
If operated like Mercy Ships, it becomes
very hard to hire crews/staffers that work for free, in competition
with paid
maritime or clinic employers. Plus, doctors can’t be expecte
to know how to run a charity. Plus, the inability to access southern
health
services has more to do with availability than cost, so affordable
clinic
ship’s services will not be a barrier, especially since, for patients
that
qualify, there are already multiple third-party sources of funds for
medical
services. Think about it, how many OB-GYN's fund their
startup via contributions or operate as non-profit entities? Even
Planned Parenthood offices are not run as "free clinics". As
structured, the operations should profit +$4MM even with lower than
land-based clinic rates...whereas, operating as a charitable clinic
only would have an annual net loss in excess of $10MM. In fact,
expecting to fund it solely via contributions "killed" another clinic
ship proposal.
Operations:
By
operating an affordable, but for-profit clinic (as a foreign registered
tenant
on the ship), as a tenant on a ship with a separate US–registered
maritime
& retail cruise operation, not only are the maritime, legal
&
hospitality responsibilities covered for the clinic, there is further
isolation
from state & Federal authorities, but still full compliance
with the US-PSVA. As noted above, It
is inconceivable that a clinic
could comply, by itself, with the multiple maritime regulations that
apply even
international waters, nor could it afford to do so.
Staffing:
Staffing on any vessel is difficult, because of competition with
hundreds of
other passenger vessels seeking crews, the usual long work hours of
staff, and
the generally low pay.
If structured like WoW
or Mercy Ships, whose crews mostly work for nothing, it is even harder
to staff
up a vessel. [For that reason, Mariner Medical is structured to pay
competitive
wages & other incentives, including not forcing staff to work
11-14 hous/day,
& 7 days a week for 6 months straight.]
Funding
& Incentives: As
structured, there are incentives for promoters, operators, substantial
rates for,
lenders/investors; while still setting clinic rates significantly below
land-based clinics, even including patient meals & transits. By
requiring
engagement fees from the clinic & maritime operators, but
loaning back most
of it as operating reserves, such reserves are ensured to be in
place…with
profits still expected to exceed the engagement fees in under a year.
The
Passenger Vessels
Services Act (often
incorrectly referred to as The Jones
Act) prohibits passenger vessels from servicing serial US ports unless
they
were built & registering in the US & manned by a US
crew. Foreign
vessels are only exempt if a stop in a foreign port is included in
every
itinerary & the passengers must travel to that port on the
subject ship.
The
cost to build a large
enough ship
(ie: a yacht) in the US, which complies with all maritime regulations,
is prohibitive, as
is the cost to convert a ferry or cargo ship. The proposed host ship,
in
contrast, is both US-built & large enough for the intended use,
as it is
certified to transit up to 20 miles offshore, & is already USCG,
SOLAS & MARPOL compliant...whereas the cost to reproduce it in
today's morket is likely to exceed $25-30MM w/o the clinic FF&E. In
checking, the subject
ship is
the ONLY US-built ship currently available that is the right size, practical and
affordable for
joint clinic & passenger service, as well as either currently,
compliant
with international & US environmental standards, &
compliant with International
Maritime & SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) current standards, or
quickly,
& affordably able to be made compliant.
Together
with importing the
clinic’s FF&E & medications from governments
certified, but
non-US sources, Mariner Medical’s startup budget is less than half of
the $20MM
others have proposed (which, as noted, was not adequate for other
vessel options)…and that startup budget includes over $1.6MM in
operating
reserves.]
With the proposed host ship’s 5,000-mile cruise range, and with the transport of provisions and people to and from it to be only via high-speed ferry and records encrypted to secure them from theft or seizure, the offshore operations are ensured to be safe and secure, by confining operations to be beyond US Gulf limits, except for refueling and some reprovisioning and periodic down-time in Tampico Mexico. Comprehensive service is expected to be convenient to almost the entire gulf population, from Fort Myers Florida to Brownsville Texas, that is within 2 hours of the coast. This scenario is based on a presumption that an option of a maximum 2-hour drive & half-hour ferry-ride to a modern clinic, for affordable, comprehensive & confidential health care, together with a relaxing day on a classic cruise ship, is preferable to a costly, multiday trip to a distant state’s clinic, for more expensive, more limited and not fully confidential care. .
Careful planning included locating ten approximately evenly spaced offshore service venues along the coast, that are each about 12 miles offshore of a ferry-capable port. This will facilitate access to the ship, which will transit overnight, from most of those venues to an adjacent one, so as to be ready for services there, early the next day, while also facilitating day excursions to the coast, by the retail cruise guests. It will also facilitate 2 visits to almost all venues, during each repeating 21-day itinerary of 2,200 miles. With the clinic being merely a ship tenant, that’s registered as an independent entity in corporate secrecy Bermuda, and operations restricted to international waters, the operations, staff and patients will be beyond US & State government or third-party control, except for international safety mandates that apply to all ships that have more than 11 persons onboard, in all waters. .
Furthermore, the proposed host ship already is, or can affordably be made to be, both environmentally and IMO compliant. And, it’s US-built, registered and owned, and will have an American maritime crew. That makes it virtually the only available, affordable and appropriate-size vessel in America, that complies for exemption from the Jones-Act and other regulations that prohibit foreign vessels from servicing serial US ports, even if they never actually enter the ports. .
Resembling a large yacht, the clinic’s proposed host is an existing but fully rehabbed small classic cruise-ship, with 100% exterior cabins. The clinic will be adjacent to this ship’s sparkling restaurant, with a super-comfortable, multi-purpose ship lounge one deck higher, and a spacious top sun-deck with a bar, lounge chairs, fishing-equipment, kayaks and other water-sports gear available.
A separate onboard operation, serving up to about 80 retail cruise guests and with its own crew of 48, will handle all hospitality and technically-complex maritime obligations for the clinic, saving it extreme effort and expense. This will leave basic S T C W maritime certifications, internationally mandated even for non-maritime shipboard workers, as the clinic’s only non-medical obligation. .
Patients and guests will enjoy meals prepared by talented, culinary graduates and patients will have access to all ship amenities during their day on-board. Patient day-fees will be inclusive of the full exam, pap & other tests, mammogram and outside lab consultations, in addition to those meals and amenities. Excluding other services, the only other cost will be $60, for the high-speed-ferry round-trip, snacks & beverages, charged because the ferry is a completely separate entity from the clinic operation. .
The clinic staff of 18, will include an equal number of 6 doctors and nurses, plus technicians and other workers. The clinic facilities will consist of seven exam, surgical procedure and recovery rooms; plus a lab, office, pharmacy, mammography, waiting, staff-break and store-rooms, plus staff quarters. At least 6 patients will be able to be accommodated simultaneously for up to a week, if warranted by their post-procedure condition or other reason. Other services will include sonograms & hysteroscopy, vaccinations, dispensing of contraceptives, and up to 4 or more early-trimester or other surgical procedures, per day, in each of 2 ambulatory surgical rooms, and even male health care. For their security, patients may only initially engage the clinic for the mandatory Well Woman exam, and or a recreational day at sea. Though freely available when appropriate, the patient can only agree to controversial services with an onboard doctor. .
Based on capacities, transit and other down-times, clinic operations will be more than 5 days a week, and 21 days per month. At a daily capacity of about 80 patients, including follow-up visits, that equates to about 22,000 annual 90 minute appointments. That may sound like a lot, but it’s less than 10% of the estimated need within the total service area. Thus, demand for the clinic’s service is sure to exceed its capacity.
It is instructive to compare Mariner Medical to the Mercy-Ship floating clinics, whose medical staffers work for free (and also must contribute to their own room and board). In addition, the larger Mercy-Ships handle less than one third of Mariner Medical’s anticipated patient-load, but have least 5 times it estimated operating budget. In comparison, Mariner Medical staff incentives will include wages exceeding the US maritime average, plus generous allowances toward staff uniforms, travel and their mandated certifications. They’ll have paid off-ship excursions on some days-off and will receive a bonus for successful contract-completion. Plus, during their 6-month contracts, staffers’ average workdays will be less than 9 hours, (far below the maritime average), and they’ll enjoy the same room, board and amenities as Retail Cruisers. .
This proposal required over a year of extensive research and analysis, far in excess of just creative finance structuring, as the planning process had to deal with the solution to each challenge being new complications themselves. A tedious cobra chain, like a game of whackamole. But, intensive forensic planning was needed, to avoid the failure of similar well-intentioned, but flawed proposals, whose more than double up-front cost was not feasible, and which would not have serviced as large a region, and were not structured specifically to attract investors, promoters or operators. The means to actually comply with international maritime law, while still being safe and secure from third party intervention, was poorly envisioned, as was how to overcome dozens of other complications, including that Texas and Florida offshore state limits are nine miles, not the three miles of other coastal states. And, since patients can’t be picked up in port, lacking the means to overcome the extreme danger of ship to ship patient or personnel transfers, assures the failure of similar proposals. .
As a result of this farsighted planning, Mariner Medical’s comprehensive strategy, synergistic team, state of the art facilities, classy fully-certified ship and company-owned high-speed ferry, will facilitate a more comprehensive and affordable service than land-based clinics provide. But it will do so safely and confidentially, profitably but affordably, while offering competitive staff wages and incentives, as well as significant commissions, interest and returns, or profits for successful promoters, investors and the clinic and maritime operators. Plus, the associated classic retail cruise service, is, currently, completely missing along the entire gulf coastal region. While the plan was conceived to attract a profit-oriented medical operator, the clinic could be non-profit, if the operator has the wherewithal to source adequate contributions.
If excluding Florida is ever appropriate, 50% more itineraries, of 14 days each for the smaller service area, would be facilitated. If ever appropriate, general medical-surgical service could be extended to the coast of Central & northern South America, where such service is limited. Or, the ship could easily and affordably be reverted back to 100% retail cruising. This flexibility promises good investment returns under any future scenario. .
The operators will be handed turn-key modern facilities without a large initial capital investment. and most engagement fees will be loaned back as initial operating reserves. The complete operation start-up and out-fitting can be accomplished within 60 days of initial capitalization. Profitability is expected within 6 months and the anticipated pre-tax income of all operations, capitalized at 8.5%, imputes a total enterprise value of 2 to 3 times the initial project cost. .
If I’ve peaked your curiosity, please register for more information. Whether as a promoter, investor, lender or operator, we hope you’ll help to get this vital service on the water! That’s it for now. Thanks for your kind attention!
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