The name Genoa means: "a sail. An overlapping jib used in lighter air.”
On the sparkling Liqurian Sea in the Gulf of Genoa
where the Apennine Mountains run into the sea, lies the small town of Genoa, Italy.
A quaint village of narrow streets and beautiful buildings
Genoa has one of the oldest sea ports on the Mediterranean
and is the birth place of Christopher Columbus
It is here in this quiet little town that our story unfolds
where a terrible virus made many people sick
But, regular citizens who cared very much for their neighbors worked long and hard
to save the people of their beloved Genoa.
As Coronavirus crossed China and into Italy, it made its way to Genoa.
The virus spread quickly from person to person
Filling Genoa’s small hospital until it was overflowing and it could take no more.
The leaders of Genoa gathered and realized they needed more space to take care of their sick.
So they looked to Genoa’s historical port for help and to the ships of the sea!
The Italian government asked three companies
HPE / Aruba, Mantero Sistemi and GNV
“Could we turn one of your ships into a floating hospital?”
GNV who owned a large Ferry named, “Splendid”, said YES!
And gave the ship to the cause, which created 400 new beds for sick patients!
So, MSC, Esprinet, ManianMax, E-EYE Towers and HPE/Aruba dedicated their people and all of the equipment.
Volunteers were needed to undertake this dangerous task and eight brave souls stepped forward.
Stefano, Daniele, Francesco, Fabio, Emanuele, Silvan, Giuseppe and Armando
As they reviewed the plan, it was clear, they would need a lot of luck.
In spite of their fears, they moved forward because they were confident in their abilities and the technology
they agreed:
“This might look impossible but if everyone works together, nothing is impossible.”
For the next 5 days as the virus raged,
four of the eight team members from HPE/Aruba traveled the long distance from Milano to Genoa.
Each day they packed their car with all the equipment and their daily food.
The police would sometimes pull them over as the area was under a strict lock down.
Once they arrived at the ship “Splendid”
the team, the ship’s crew and the hospital staff worked to transform the ship into a floating hospital.
The team ran miles and miles of cable through the ship’s steel frame
and installed hundreds of Aruba/HPE wireless access points.
This made it possible for the floating hospital to be online
so that medical equipment could communicate,
patients on the ship could talk with their families,
and the ship’s crew was able to contact the local Genoa hospital.
Once the HPE/Aruba Wi-Fi installation was complete,
the Ferry “Splendid” was transformed into a smart ship and floating hospital.
So, thanks to the resilience of the Italian people,
a small group of brave and caring souls,
and a ship called “Splendid”
saved many lives in the face of death on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy has been devastated by this virus
and it continues today,
but Iight shone through the darkness
because heroes rose up to help their community.
Thank you to all that serve the greater good
who give selflessly and that are the true meaning of what it is to be human.
and to a ship called “Splendid”
