USS Iwo Jima Arrives in Costa Rica

August 23, 2010 | expatcostarica | Comments 0

USS Iwo Jima conducts a replenishment at sea. U.S. Navy Photo

The USS Iwo Jima arrived Saturday in Limon, Costa Rica as part of Operation Continuing Promise. Attending the opening of an event to provide medial services were Limon mayor Eduardo Barboza and United States embassador Anne Andrew. The naval ship is expected to provide medical attention to residents of Limon, Siquirres and Talamanca.

Crew of the USS Iwo Jima provided treatment on Saturday to patients of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social at a sports complex in Limon. The medical staff will perform surgeries on board the USS Iwo Jima, which is equipped with a hospital that has six operating rooms and 600 beds.

Apart from medical facilities the Wasp class amphibious assault ship is capable of carrying a compliment of 1,897 Marines deployable by helicopter transport. The ship can also deploy vehicles with heavy lift helicopters, and also carries a squadron of eight AV-8B Harrier attack fighters that can land and take off horizontally. According to the United States Navy the Iwo Jima is the lead ship of the Iwo Jima Strike Group supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The arrival of the United States Navy in Limon is not without controversy since the Costa Rican legislature gave approval for all 46 ships in the flotilla to enter Costa Rican waters and conduct joint counter narcotics exercises with the Costa Rican Coast Guard. A few demonstrators are said to have turned out for the event, however its doubtful that anyone in the community will organize any meaningful protest.

Apart from the medial assistance a contingent of marines are expected to do construction work in the area on schools and community centers. The Iwo Jima arrives in Costa Rica after performing the same humanitarian and counter narcotics mission in Colombia.