By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
Legislature approved a request made
by Michael Soto, Minister of Public
Security, for the berthing, port
stay and disembarking of the crew of
the U.S. Navy Ship called the "USS
CHARLESTON LCS-18."
"The ship will stay in Costa Rica
for refueling and resupply, as well
as giving rest to the crew and
exchanging experiences with the
security authorities of Costa Rica,"
said the legislature in a statement.
According to U.S. Navy release, the
USS Charleston is the 16th littoral
combat ship to enter the fleet and
the ninth of the Independence type.
The ship will be the sixth named to
honor the city and citizens of
Charleston.
According to a Navy fact sheet, the
3,200-ton Charleston, built by
General Dynamics/Austal USA in
Mobile, Ala., is 421 feet long, has
a beam of 103 feet and a
navigational draft of 15 feet.
The ship is powered by two gas
turbine engines, two main propulsion
diesel engines, and four waterjets
to speeds up to 40-plus knots.
The U.S. and Costa Rica agreement of
cooperation is making efforts to
stop drugs trafficking in the
country.
Thanks to the agreement between the
countries, Costa Rica has received a
donation of equipment from the
United States.
The most recent was last week, as AM
Costa Rica reported on Friday, was
four helicopters donated by the U.S.
Air Training Program.
Those helicopters arrived aboard the
giant Globemaster C-17 plane and
will be transferred to the Air
Surveillance Service of the Ministry
of Public Security until 2021.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the
United States Government will be in
charge of the called "UH-IST"
helicopters for two years, during
which time they will watch over its
maintenance, purchase spare parts
and train the pilots and maintenance
managers, while the Air Surveillance
Service will assume the costs
operations.
The total value of this project
amounts to $48 million dollars and
includes the four helicopters, their
reconditioning, maintenance, spare
parts and training for members of
the Air Surveillance Service.
According to the Security Ministry,
the called "UH-IST" helicopters have
a capacity of 15 people (three crew
and 12 passengers), reach a maximum
speed of 205 kilometers per hour and
have a coverage range of 182
nautical miles. They carry tow
motors and have a load capacity of
7,306 pounds.
The first few days were spent in the
assembly of the aircraft and flight
tests. Training of pilots and
maintenance crews will be ongoing
and a team of 20 aviation experts
will remain in Base 2 until the
conclusion of the program.
|
U.S.
Navy courtesy photo
USS Charleston is the
16th littoral combat
ship to enter the
fleet and the ninth of
the Independence type.
These helicopters will
increase the capacity
of the Air
Surveillance Service
to provide air support
in emergency response,
humanitarian aid,
transportation of
equipment and
personnel to more
remote areas,
preventive patrols and
maritime and air
interdictions. The
"UH-IST" can operate
in mountainous areas
and in variable
conditions, ideal for
the diverse geography
of Costa Rica.
"Its main goal is to
support the Costa
Rican government with
the strengthening of
its operations to
fight illegal drug
trafficking and
criminal air and
maritime activities,
as well as increase
the country's capacity
to deal with natural
disasters and
humanitarian crises,"
said the Ministry in
its statement.
The training program
started in 2009 and
was developed by the
U.S. Bureau of
International
Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs,
in partnership with
the government of
Costa Rica.
The U.S. Bureau of
International
Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs
announced that it will
continue to support
the Air Surveillance
Service with other
plans and projects
once the helicopter
program is completed.
In April 2018, the
U.S. Bureau donated
three vessels from the
U.S. Coast Guards of
Hawaii and Baltimore.
At that time
Ambassador Sharon Day
said those patrol
boats will help to
promote the effort of
the National Coast
Guard Service of Costa
Rica to safeguard its
territory from drug
trafficking, illegal
fishing, human
trafficking, and other
illicit activities and
allow the country to
watch over its entire
ocean territory.
---------------
Is the
drug trafficking issue
created by producers
(supply)
or consumers
(demand)? We would like
to know your thoughts on
this story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link to
reach the map.
|
