An eight member Japanese Coast Guard delegation led by Coast Guard Superintendent 3rd Grade(Equivalent to Commander Rank of Indian Navy) Shinsuke Hayama, Commanding Officer, 30th Somalia Dispatch Investigation team visited Coast Guard Regional Headquarters at Worli, Mumbai today.
Mr Takashi Yamashita, Second Secretary from Embassy of Japan was also present.
The delegation was briefed about the coastal security mechanism and preparedness of Coast Guard Region (West) to tackle maritime emergencies arising especially during monsoon, such as marine oil pollution, grounding of ship, cyclones, Measures taken by the Coast Guard to safeguard the interests of the fishing community, etc.
The Japan Coast Guard has had a regular presence in the Bay of Bengal since 2000, as part of regular Sahyog-Kaijin exercises with the Indian Coast Guard, which now includes Sri Lanka and Maldives as observers.
A Joint Indo Japan Coast Guard exercise was held in January this year at Chennai wherein Japan Coast Guard ship Tsugaru participated. Observers from 17 countries, a delegation from the Coast Guard of Japan, and members of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board also witnessed the drill. The visit was aimed at strengthening ties between the Coast Guards of two maritime Nations for better co-ordination, and joint operations in future.
