Coast Guard Ship 8005 concludes visit and exchange program in Malaysia

Approved by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense, the delegation was led by Senior Colonel Tran Nguyen Lai, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Coast Guard Region 4. The visit marked the first time a Vietnam Coast Guard chip has visited Malaysia, opening a new chapter in cooperation between the two countries' maritime law enforcement agencies.

Ship 8005 departed Port of Naval Squadron 401 in Coast Guard Region 4 on June 20 and arrived safely at Kuantan Port on June 22, where it was welcomed by Colonel Mohd Marmizi bin Md Nor, Deputy Director for Operations of the MMEA Pahang Region, along with representatives of the Embassy of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Defense Attaché Office in Malaysia, and MMEA personnel.

At the welcome ceremony, Col. Mohd Marmizi bin Md Nor emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between the two maritime law enforcement agencies in addressing challenges, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, smuggling, transnational crime, piracy, maritime accidents, environmental pollution, and search and rescue operations. He said the visit would strengthen mutual understanding, enhance coordination, build trust, and contribute to peace, stability, and maritime security in the region.

Sr. Col. Tran Nguyen Lai thanked the Malaysian side for its warm hospitality and reaffirmed that the Vietnam Coast Guard highly values its partnership with the MMEA and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia. He noted that the visit of the modern 2,400-ton, Vietnamese-built patrol ship provided an opportunity for personnel from both forces to exchange professional experience, strengthen mutual understanding, and deepen cooperation.

During the visit, the two sides held official talks and professional exchanges focusing on search and rescue operations and combating IUU fishing. The Vietnam Coast Guard shared its experience in maintaining 24/7 operational readiness, applying technology to vessel monitoring, and improving coordination among maritime agencies.

The Vietnamese delegation also paid a courtesy call on Rear Admiral Hamizan bin Harun, Director of the MMEA Academy, toured the academy, participated in cultural activities, sports exchanges, communications exercises, and discussions on training and education. The activities were conducted in a friendly atmosphere, further strengthening ties between the two forces.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the steady growth of cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the MMEA through regular information sharing, coordinated responses to maritime incidents, mutual support in maritime law enforcement and search and rescue, and joint efforts to prevent and combat IUU fishing. He said the visit also serves as an important step toward the early signing of a memorandum of understanding on maritime law enforcement and search and rescue cooperation between the two governments.

He also welcomed the MMEA's participation in the second "Vietnam Coast Guard and Friends" exchange program in 2024 and expressed hope that the agency would attend the third edition, scheduled for December this year.

Rear Admiral Mazlan Bin Mat Rejab, Director of the MMEA Pahang Region, described the visit as a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation. He said it reflected the strong friendship, mutual trust, and shared commitment of both agencies to maritime security and safety, while expressing hope for expanded cooperation in areas of common interest.

Both sides agreed that the visit successfully achieved its objectives by promoting professional exchanges, strengthening mutual trust, and further deepening cooperation between the two maritime law enforcement forces.

On June 27, Ship 8005 safely returned to Port of Naval Squadron 401 in Coast Guard Region 4, successfully concluding its visit and exchange program with the MMEA.

Below are photos of the visit to and exchange program of the Vietnamese Coast Guard delegation with the MMEA.

A formal send-off ceremony for the delegation is held at Port of Naval Squadron 401.

Representatives of the MMEA Pahang Region welcome the Vietnam Coast Guard delegation at Kuantan Port.

The MMEA Pahang Region delegation visits and works with the Vietnamese delegation onboard Ship 8005.

The MMEA Pahang Region delegation's activities onboard Ship 8005

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Sr. Col. Tran Nguyen Lai, pays a courtesy call on Rear Admiral Hamizan bin Harun, Director of the MMEA Academy, and tours the institution.