On Tuesday morning, the Japan Coast Guard Training Vessel KOJIMA, carrying a total of 80 officers and crew members, docked at Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port to begin a 5-day courtesy visit to the city.

The Japan Coast Guard Training Vessel KOJIMA

The Japanese guests were warmly welcomed by representatives from the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, the High Command of the Viet Nam Coast Guard, the High Command of the Marine Police Region II, the municipal Border Guard High Command, and the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam, and others.

The welcoming ceremony for Japanese guests

During their 5-day stay in the city, the ship’s captain and crew will pay courtesy visits to the city’s leaders and the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre Region II.

In addition, they will participate in the Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival 2018 which will take place at a vacant land at the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge from 27 - 29 July.

Also, the Japanese crew members will visit the High Command of the Marine Police Region II in Quang Nam Province’s Ky Ha Port, and take part in cultural and sports exchange activities with Vietnamese colleagues there.

Japanese crew members

Col Tonosaki Hinorobu - captain of the Japanese ship - said that the visit of KOJIMA provides a good opportunity for the coast guard forces of two countries to exchange experience in ensuring maritime security in the region, as well as to boost their cooperation and mutual understanding.

The 115m- long and 14m- wide KOJIMA has a displacement of 3,000 tonnes.

Previously, the ship had berthed at the Tien Sa Port in July 2013 and July 2016.