Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters has completed a joint search and rescue exercise in Japan in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

This was the first joint exercise by the three countries after the announcement of the Joint Vision Statement by the leaders of Japan, the United States, and the Philippines in April 2024. 

According to the Japan Coast Guard, the aim of the exercise was for the three coast guards to strengthen their coordination and cooperation. The personnel also made reciprocal visits to their respective patrol vessels, followed by a visit to the Japan Coast Guard facility.

The exercise took place in Kagoshima Bay in the far west of Japan. The exercise was held under the assumption that two vessels had collided with each other on the high seas south of Kyushu, resulting in a fire and a person falling overboard. It also included a fire-fighting routine.

The Japan Coast Guard utilized three vessels and a helicopter, the US Coast Guard used a 4,500-tonne cutter, a small boat, and a drone, while the Philippine Coast Guard used a patrol vessel and a small boat.