Japan Coast Guard Ship 'Echigo' arrives in Chennai

The Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Echigo’ has arrived Chennai on Monday on a five-day goodwill visit. It will be participating in the Annual Joint Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ with the Indian Coast Guard off Chennai on coming Thursday.

This is the 19th such exercise being conducted between the two Coast Guards since 2000. It is being witnessed by Admiral Takahiro Okushima, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard and the Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Krishnaswamy Natarajan.

Four Indian Coast Guard ships, their aircraft and a vessel from the



Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology - NIOT are participating in the exercise along with the Japanese vessel.

It is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding between the two Coast Guards. It is set to enhance interoperability in communication and Search and Rescue procedures and sharing of best practices.

It will help both the Coast Guards to work together in protecting shared interests whenever such need arises, in responding to threats of piracy or humanitarian crisis.