The people of Hoboken went to the river this morning to see the USNS Comfort, the Navy hospital ship sent from Norfolk, Va. to New York City to provide space and support to medical workers besieged by COVID-19.

The ship departed on Saturday under the personal observation of President Donald J. Trump.

“In a few moments the crew of the navy hospital ship USNS Comfort, which is really something, will embark for New York City where they will join the ranks of tens of thousands of amazing doctors, nurses and medical professionals who are battling to save American lives,” Trump said, speaking in front of the ship.

“This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York. A place I know very well, a place I love,” the president added.

According to NBC News’ coverage of the Comfort’s journey:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio have warned that the city’s hospitals will soon reach capacity and efforts have already been made to build makeshift hospitals at locations such as the Jacob Javits Center, a large convention hall on the west side of Manhattan.

The ship is expected to dock nearby at Pier 90 in Manhattan on Monday and will begin seeing patients on Tuesday. The Comfort had been undergoing maintenance in Norfolk, which The Pentagon initially said would take weeks to complete.