India, Japan joint coast guard exercises held off Kochi

Kochi: The 13th edition of joint exercises by the Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart was held off Kochi today. The Japan Coast Guard Ship Mizuho and its integral helicopter, Indian Coast Guard Ship Samrat, Chetak helicopter, Dornier aircraft, and Coast Guard participated in the exercises titled Sahayog-Kaijin 2014, and was held approximately, 20 nautical miles off Kochi.[caption id=“attachment_1339727” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Director General of Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Admiral Yuji Sato, Commandant of Japanese Coast Guard, and Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director General of Indian Coast Guard, who were on board Indian vessel ‘Samrat’ witnessed the exercises, which included cross-deck landings, anti-piracy drills, search and rescue demonstration and a fire fighting demonstration. Addressing the media jointly on board the Samrat after completion of exercises, both Admirals expressed satisfaction at the successful conduct of the exercise. Such exercises improved inter-operability and confidence in operating together and are aimed at capacity building, they said. In reply to a specific question, Thapliyal pointed out to the fact that threat of piracy has been wiped out of India’s west coast through joint efforts of Indian Navy and Coast Guard and underscored the fact that this area needs to be removed from the definition of high risk area for piracy. The joint exercises between the two Coast Guards are being held annually since 1999. It focuses on anti-piracy procedures, pollution control measures and other areas of common professional interest. Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region West and senior officials of Japan Coast Guard delegation also witnessed the exercise. PTI