Japanese Coast Guard Ship arrives in Chennai to take part in five-day joint exercise with ICG

NE NEWS SERVICE

CHENNAI, JAN 13

Japanese Coast Guard ship ‘Echigo PLH08’ arrived here on Monday to take part in a five-day – January 13 to January 16 -joint exercise with the Indian Coast Guard, aimed at boosting ties
between the two countries, a Indian Coast Guard release said.

Japanese Coast Guard ship ‘Echigo PLH08’ arrives in Chennai on Monday. – NE photo

According to release, the ship arrived here in accordance with Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Indian Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard in 2006. The Coast Guards have been conducting regular interactions, including High Level Visits, Annual Joint Exercises code named “Sahyog-Kaijin,” training exchanges and participation in short term training workshops/seminars.

School students and ICG officers accord a grand welcome to Japanese Coast Guard officers in Chennai on Monday. – NE photo

In continuance of the existing cooperation, the Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Echigo’ led by Commanding Officer, Captain Kiyoshi Harada arrived Chennai on January 13 (Monday) on a five-day goodwill visit. During the visit, the ship will be participating in the Annual Joint Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ to be conducted off Chennai on January 16, 2020.

This is the 19^th such exercise being conducted between the two Coast Guards since its institution in the year 2000. This Joint Exercise is being witnessed by Admiral Takahiro Okushima, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard and Director General Krishnaswamy Natarajan, PTM, TM Director General Indian Coast Guard.

In addition to JCG ship Echigo, a total of four ICG ships, their aircrafts and a vessel from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) are participating in this exercise. The exercise is aimed at further strengthening ties and mutual understanding between the two Coast Guards, enhancing interoperability in communication as well as Search and Rescue procedures and sharing of best practices. Such exercise are also mutually beneficial and strengthen the existing bilateral relationship, which enable both the Coast Guards to work together to protect shared interests if such need arises, whether it is responding to threats of piracy or humanitarian disasters.

In addition to JCG ship Echigo, a total of four ICG ships, their aircraft and a vessel from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) are participating in this exercise. – NE photo

During the stay of JCG ship Echigo in harbour, various activities are planned, including official calls reciprocal visit on-board ships, sporting, cultural interactions and professional interactions between personnel of both the Coast Guards.