LIBERTADOR class

  3 LIBERTADOR PATROL BOATS (PB) (ex-USCG ISLAND class)   
Name                        Pendant     Launched      Commissioned       Status  
JUAN RAFAEL MORA PORRAS     110-1       ...           Aug. 27, 1991       Active   
(ex-USCGC LONG ISLAND, WPB-1342)  
JOSE MARIA CANAS ESCAMILLA  110-2       ...           Feb. 7, 1992        Active   
(ex-USCGC ROANOKE ISLAND, WPB-1346)  
RODRIGO CARAZO              110-3       ...           June 5, 1992        Active    
(ex-USCGC GALVESTON ISLAND, WPB-1349)  

The LIBERTADOR class are Costa Rican ex-ISLAND class patrol boats donated by the United States. They are designed for maritime patrol, interdiction, anti-trafficking, migration control and natural resource protection. The delivery of these vessels greatly enhanced the patrol and deployment range of the Costa Rican coast guard from approximately 650 nm (1,200 km) to almost 4,000 nm (7,275 km).

HULL: These ISLAND-class vessels have a full load displacement of 150 tons and measure 110 ft (33.53 m) long. The boats' beams measure 21 ft (6.4 m) wide, with drafts of 7 ft 4 in (2.23 m). The JUAN RAFAEL MORA PORRAS is equipped with a 20-ft (6.0-m) rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB).
The ships have a complement of 16, including two officers.

ENGINEERING: Two Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines produce 5,674 total bhp, driving two shafts. The class has a top speed of 29 knots. At 10 knots, these ships can reach a maximum range of 3,928 nm (7,275 km).

ARMAMENT: Two 12.7-mm machine guns are equipped. The previously installed 25-mm Mk 38 Bushmaster Sea Snake main gun was removed before delivery to the Costa Rican coast guard.

SENSORS/ELECTRONICS: Each vessel is equipped with either a Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)1 or Hughes-Furuno AN/SPS-73 navigation radar. These vessels were fitted with new navigation and communication systems before delivery to the Costa Rican coast guard.

All three in service.
Based at Puerto Caldera.

These ex-ISLAND-class patrol boat cutters were donated by the United States to the Costa Rican coast guard through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Following the withdrawal of these ships from U.S. Coast Guard service in 2015, a decision was made in 2016 to donate the vessels to Costa Rica to aid in anti-trafficking and maritime security objectives. Original plans called for the donation of only two vessels, LONG ISLAND and ROANOKE ISLAND, however a third ship, the former GALVESTON ISLAND was made available at short notice and also included in the donation.

The formal donation notice was issued in October 2017 and following a refurbishment period, the first two boats were transferred to Costa Rican possession in Baltimore, Md. on Feb. 13, 2018. The transfer was followed by a training of Costa Rican coast guard personnel for 10 weeks to learn how to navigate, command and maintain the vessels. The new vessels were reportedly refitted with new communication and navigation equipment before handover. The 25-mm Mk 38 Bushmaster Sea Snake gun was also removed. On April 3, the vessels and their new crew departed for Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. All three ships of the newly designated LIBERTADOR class were commissioned on April 26, 2018.

On Sept. 14, 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica donated $1.8 million to support counter-narcotic trafficking initiatives in the country. The donation includes repair and refit of the JUAN RAFAEL MORA PORRAS, which had been undergoing similar work in Colombia for the past year. The donation included a 20-ft (6.0-m) rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and new safety and protection equipment.

Bollinger Shipyard, Lockport, La.

 CREW
   Total                   16 (2 off. + 14 enl.)

 DISPLACEMENT
   Full load               150 tons

 DIMENSIONS
   Length                  110 ft 0 in (33.53 m)
   Beam                     21 ft 0 in (  6.4 m)
   Draft                     7 ft 4 in ( 2.23 m)

 PROPULSION
   Main                    2 x Caterpillar 3516 diesels
      power                5,674 total bhp; 2 shafts

 PERFORMANCE
   Speed                   29 knots  
   Range                   3,928 nm (7,275 km) at 10 knots    

 COMBAT SYSTEMS
   Guns                     2 x 12.7-mm machine guns
   Radar                    1 x Raytheon AN/SPS-64(V)1 navigation or                            
                            1 x Hughes-Furuno AN/SPS-73 navigation 

Donation of the first two boats in the class was valued at $18.9 million.

U.S. ISLAND class.