COSTA RICAN COAST GUARD RECEIVES MAITENANCE

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000400 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, INL/LP USCG FOR CG-00I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINR MASS SNARCS SUBJECT: COSTA RICAN COAST GUARD RECEIVES MAITENANCE TRAINING ¶1. (U) On May 9, a U.S. Coas Guard Mobile Training Team (MTT) completed a wee-long outboard motor maintenance course for 20 Csta Rican Coast Guard (SNGC) personnel at the Paific port city of Puntarenas. The SNGC personnel,from several different stations, received two das of classroom instruction followed by two days o "turning wrenches" on actual non-operational ouboard motors. As a practical result of the MTT ourse, three outboard engines were put back intooperation and thus put one Eduardono-type of "gofast" back in the water at full operational capacit for Costa Rica. ¶2. (SBU) The U.S. Coast Guar MTT told us that the SNGC personnel were alread fairly well-trained on outboard motor maintenane, but benefited from some new techniques and prcedures. However, they did note that SNGC personne should be encouraged to better use their mainteance manuals so that no procedures were overlookd. The MTT added that by the end of the trainin, the SNGC personnel were starting to properly ue the manuals. The MTT also donated a ratchet tol set to the SNGC at the end of the course. ¶3. (U) Martin Arias, Director of the SNGC, and Agnes Gomez, the mayor of Puntarenas, also attended the graduation ceremony. Arias highlighted the importance of the training for his coast guard and thanked the MTT for "tightening the links" between Costa Rica and the U.S. Gomez said that the maintenance training would directly and positively affect the readiness of the SNGC and would assist in interdicting drugs, especially in her district. Local media coverage, including television, was positive and highlighted the cooperative nature of the training. ¶4. (SBU) Arias requested further MTT maintenance training on the Model 3412-type of Caterpillar engines that drive their three 82-foot patrol boats. ======= COMMENT ======= ¶5. (SBU) This MTT training is the first of its type that Post has been able to sponsor in nearly six years, mainly due to DoD and USCG priorities in other regions. We encouraged the SNGC personnel to take their new-found skills back to their units and put more of their small boats back into operation. Much remains to be done to put the Costa Rican Coast Guard at a higher operational readiness rate, but MTT's such as this help tremendously. Although fairly basic, we believe this is exactly the kind of training that is needed to correct the SNGC's inconsistent maintenance record. ¶6. (U) We would like to pass along kudos and thanks to the USCG for sending this outboard motor maintenance MTT to Costa Rica. If possible, we request further maintenance visits of this kind to improve our bilateral maritime effort to interdict narcotics. BRENNAN