The Church of Scientology, target of much negative publicity -- well, most of the time, but particularly in the last year -- is touting the launch Friday of its "Lifeboat to Haiti," a decommissioned Coast Guard icebreaker that its says will carry 175 tons of supplies to the earthquake-shattered nation.

From a release:

Two months after the earthquake in Haiti, with the U.N. and Haitian government predicting reconstruction will cost $11.5 billion and the rainy season fast approaching, hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless, living in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps with no protection from the elements. With an international team of Scientology Volunteer Ministers on the ground in and around Port-au-Prince helping the nation rebuild, the Church of Scientology is sponsoring a “Lifeboat to Haiti”—an 896-ton former U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker sailing from Miami for Port-au-Prince with more than 175 tons of supplies. Cargo includes wood burning stoves donated by the charity of Lola Poisson Joseph, wife of the Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. as well as an ambulance, school bus and more than 20,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs). Community leaders, clergy, politicians and representatives of the Miami Haitian community, including Myron Rosner, Mayor of North Miami Beach, Andre Pierre, Mayor of City of North Miami, Daphne D. Campbell, RN, business executive and Haitian community leader running for Florida State House of Representatives will give the ship a send-off on Friday. The event will take place at the Miami Shipping Terminal, 3201 NW South River Drive in Miami.
The Church of Scientology has transported more than 450 medical professionals and 300 Volunteer Ministers to Haiti to support the doctors, nurses and EMTs on the ground.

The church says the cargo will include four pallets of wood-burning stoves, 60 tons of wood pellets, more than 20,000 meals ready to eat, an ambulance, a school bus and a pickup truck, tents, medical supplies, clothing, bedding, crutches and other items.