CHENNAI 10 JAN 16. A JOINT EXERCISE BETWEEN INDIAN AND JAPAN COAST GUARD NAMED SAHYOG-KAIJIN-XV IS SCHEDULED TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE BAY OF BENGAL OFF CHENNAI ON 15 JAN 16. THE AIM OF THE EXERCISE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE WORKING LEVEL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COAST GUARDS AND FURTHER REFINE THE JOINT OPERATING PROCEDURES.
- JAPAN COAST GUARD SHIP “ECHIGO” WILL BE VISITING CHENNAI FROM 11-16 JAN 16. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXERCISE ENCOMPASSES THE SCENARIO OF HIJACKING OF A MERCHANT VESSEL AND ITS SUBSEQUENT RESCUE IN A COMBINED COAST GUARD OPERATION OF BOTH COUNTRIES. OPERATION OF INDIAN COAST GUARD HELICOPTERS FROM JAPAN COAST GUARD SHIP AND VICE VERSA, CROSS DECK LANDING, INTERDICTION OF PIRATE VESSEL, CROSS BOARDING, SAR DEMONSTRATION, STREAM PAST AND EXTERNAL FIRE FIGHTING ARE THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXERCISE.
- IN ADDITION THE INDIAN COAST GUARD SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT WILL BE DEMONSTRATING THEIR PROWESS BEFORE THE JAPANESE DELEGATION. THE EXERCISE WOULD BE JOINTLY WITNESSED BY THE VICE ADMIRAL HCS BISHT, AVSM, THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, INDIAN COAST GUARD AND THE VICE ADMIRAL HIDEYO HANAMIZU, VICE COMMANDANT, JAPAN COAST GUARD. INSPECTOR GENERAL SP SHARMA, PTM, TM, THE COMMANDER COAST GUARD REGION (EAST) WILL ALSO BE PRESENT DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE EXERCISE.
- DURING THE PERIOD OF STAY, THE JAPANESE DELEGATION WOULD BE CALLING ON IMPORTANT DIGNITARIES IN CHENNAI. IN ADDITION, SOCIAL INTERACTION BETWEEN CREW OF INDIAN COAST GUARD AND JAPAN COAST GUARD HAS BEEN PLANNED ON 12 JAN 16 AND ALSO A FRIENDLY VOLLEYBALL MATCH BETWEEN INDIAN COAST GUARD AND JAPAN COAST GUARD WILL BE ORGANIZED ON 14 JAN 16. AS A PART OF CROSS TRAINING JAPANESE CREW WILL BE VISITING ONBOARD ICGS SAMUDRA PAHEREDAR AND ICG CREW WILL VISIT JAPAN COAST GUARD SHIP “ECHIGO”. VISIT TO MARITIME RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRE / REGIONAL OPERATION CENTRE HAS ALSO BEEN PLANNED FOR JAPAN COAST GUARD CREW.
- ASSOCIATION OF THE INDIAN AND JAPAN COAST GUARD DATES BACK TO THE YEAR 1999 WHEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MARITIME HISTORY A PIRATED SHIP WAS APPREHENDED. THE JAPAN FLAGGED SHIP MV ALONDRA RAINBOW WAS HIJACKED BY PIRATES AND HAD BEEN REPAINTED AND NAMED AS MV MEGA RAMA. THE VESSEL WAS APPREHENDED BY THE INDIAN COAST GUARD IN THE ARABIAN SEA AFTER A LONG HOT PURSUIT. THE INCIDENT BEING A PRECEDENT IN ITSELF HAD RECEIVED WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION.
- CONSEQUENT TO THE SUCCESSFUL APPREHENSION OF MV ALONDRA, ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE TWO COAST GUARDS GREW AT A RAPID PACE. THE GOVT. OF INDIA ACCORDED ITS APPROVAL TO CONDUCT COMBINED EXERCISES IN THE YEAR 2000 AND BILATERAL VISITS OF COAST GUARD SHIPS OF BOTH COUNTRIES WERE INSTITUTIONALIZED. SUBSEQUENTLY, A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE TWO COAST GUARDS IN 2006 TO FURTHER CEMENT THIS ASSOCIATION ENABLING SCHEDULING OF JOINT EXERCISES EVERY YEAR ALTERNATELY IN INDIA AND JAPAN.
CHIEF PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
COAST GUARD REGION (EAST)
TEL OFFICE 044- 23460406 / 9940584540
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