The USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy hospital ship, is scheduled to visit Trinidad and Tobago from August 5 to 11 as part of the Continuing Promise 2025 mission. The vessel will dock in Port of Spain, marking the final stop on its regional deployment.
During the visit, medical teams from the USNS Comfort will work with Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Health and local healthcare professionals. Free medical services for adults and children—including dental care, optometry, physical therapy, and dermatology—will be available at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain from August 7 to 9 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Services will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis without pre-registration. While national identification is not required, it may help with medication dispensing. Each patient can address one medical issue per visit but may return for additional consultations.
Basic surgical care will also be provided onboard the ship; however, only patients pre-selected by the Ministry of Health using existing waiting lists are eligible for treatment aboard the USNS Comfort. The public seeking medical services should go to NAPA rather than directly to the ship.
The visit aims to strengthen cooperation between U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago military forces through exchanges in healthcare collaboration, disaster preparedness, response efforts, and law enforcement capacity building.
In addition to medical outreach, the U.S. Fleet Forces Band “Uncharted Waters” will perform free public concerts during the ship’s stay; details about dates and times will be announced later.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz stated: “The visit of the USNS Comfort underscores the benefits of the strong partnership between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. We are sharing our very best—American excellence—with Trinidad and Tobago.”
Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet added: “The USNS Comfort’s deployment under Continuing Promise demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s enduring commitment to our allies and partners across the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This mission will forge lasting partnerships and deliver impactful aid, leaving a legacy of goodwill throughout the region.”
Continuing Promise 2025 is noted as the sixteenth such mission since 2007—and marks USNS Comfort’s eighth participation in this effort—with previous visits including stops by USNS Burlington in 2023 and USNS Comfort in 2019.