The camaraderie between the Indian and Japanese Coast Guards was on display in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast on Friday, January 12, 2024, as their vessels and aircraft were involved in a joint exercise, practising various procedures.
Besides ICGS Shaurya, ICGS Shaunak, ICGS Sujay, ICGS Samudra Paheredar, ICGS Rani Abbakka and ICGS Annie Besant, ICGS C-440 and ICGS C-449 represented the Indian side, while visiting JCGS Yashima represented the Japanese during the exercise.
The Indian Coast Guard’s twin-engine turboprop fixed-wing Dornier 228, rotary wing advanced light helicopters Dhruv and Chetak, also took part in the exercise. The exercise went on for about three hours.
The personnel were trained in distress communications, aerial surveillance, VIP embarkation, search and rescue phases, firefighting phases and the assessment and retrieval of oil spills, among others. Personnel of the Japan Coast Guard were on board Indian Coast Guard ships and vice versa for the exercise.
Speaking to reporters, Indian Coast Guard’s Regional Commander (Eastern Region) Inspector-General Donny Michael said: “This is the 20th such exercise between the Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard. We learn the best practices from each other during the exercise.”
Japan Coast Guard’s Commander Yoshihiro Shimizu, Director-International Relations, said, with the help of a translator: “We will continue to further strengthen the cooperation between both sides through joint drills and exercises and the exchange of opinions.”
