The Vietnamese mission was led by Senior Colonel Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Region 1.
The positive results obtained during the voyage have contributed to strengthening friendship, mutual understanding and trust, and cooperation between the two coast guard forces.
Impressions of the land of rising sun
At 12 on October 2, after eight-day voyage, the CSB 8004 and Vietnamese coast guard delegation arrived in Shinko port in Kobe city, Hyogo province, starting the series of activities within the visit and exchange with the Japan Coast Guard.
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Vietnamese and Japanese coast guards posing for a joint photo on Ship CSB 8004 |
Kobe is one of the first cities of Japan to expand trading activities with Western countries and allow foreigners to immigrate and permanently settle in the locality. It is Hyogo province’s big city located on Honshu Island and also the largest main seaport of Japan. Kobe is a busy, bustling city with a total of about 1.5 million people, of whom more than 45,500 are foreign residents from more than 100 different countries living and working there.
A solemn welcome ceremony for Ship CSB 8004 and the Vietnamese delegation was solemnly held at La Suite Kobe Hotel in Shinko port with the presence of Japanese officials, the governor of Hyogo province, the Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka, Vietnamese Defense Attaché to Japan, and commanding staff of Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard. The thoughtfulness and sentiment of the host impressed each member of the Vietnamese coast guard delegation.
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Ship CSB 8004 arriving at Shinko port |
The Japan visit of the CSB 8004 and the Vietnamese coast guard delegation continued to affirm the close relationship between the Vietnamese and Japanese governments and between the two coast guard forces. In his welcoming speech, Commander of Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard Hattori emphasized that 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic ties (September 21, 1973 - 2023). In this memorable year, the Japan Coast Guard was delighted and proud to welcome a ship of the Vietnamese Coast Guard to Kobe port. He affirmed that the visit of the CSB 8004 would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two forces and the friendship between the two countries and actualizing the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”
After the welcome ceremony, the Vietnamese delegation officially started activities in Japan, including a courtesy visit on the local authorities of Hyogo province, Kobe city, and Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard. During the visits, the head of the Vietnamese delegation Senior Colonel Le Thanh Hai thanked the hosts for their warm receptions, expressing his delight at visiting Kobe - a beautiful city with friendly and hospitable people, and at Hyogo province’s outstanding achievements in society, economy, security and defense.
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Ship CSB 8004 dropping canoe to conduct search and rescue content |
Through activities, the visit aimed to strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding and trust between the two coast guard forces. It offered an opportunity for the two sides to exchange experience and foster coordination in responding to traditional and non-traditional maritime security issues, thus boosting exchange and cooperation between the two forces.
At meetings, leaders of Hyogo province, Kobe city, and Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard expressed delight at welcoming the delegation of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command and Ship CSB 8004 to Kobe city. They hoped that the visit would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two forces in particular and between the authorities and people of Hyogo province and Kobe city and Vietnamese localities’ authorities and people in general, thereby further promoting the comprehensive cooperation between the two governments.
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Helicopter and ships of the Japan Coast Guard joining the exercise |
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Ship CSB 8004’s canoe joining the exercise |
The Vietnamese coast guards also visited and shared first aid experience with their Japanese peers on Patrol Ship Tosa, attended and held banquets, toured Osaka Bay Vessel Management Center and Settsu patrol vessel, and visited historical and cultural sites in Osaka city. During these activities, members of the Vietnamese delegation were strongly impressed by the professionalism and modernization of the Japan Coast Guard and the Japanese people’s assiduousness, generosity, and hospitality.
Affirmation of continuous development of Vietnam Coast Guard
On October 6 morning, Ship CSB 8004 carrying the Vietnamese coast guard delegation honked its horn three times as a farewell to the beautiful city of Kobe to head to Osaka to conduct the search and rescue exercise content at sea with the Japan Coast Guard before leaving the land of rising sun for the Fatherland.
The joint search and rescue exercise content saw the participation of Vietnam’s Ship CSB 8004 and Japan’s patrol vessels Tosa, PC 54, and PC 55. The simulated situation was that while Ship CSB 8004 of the Vietnam Coast Guard was moving in the international waters managed by Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard, the Vietnamese crew-members received an order to conduct the search and rescue mission from the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC). Earlier, the Vietnam MRCC received a report from the operating center of Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard that two sailors felt into the waters near Ship CSB 8004 and requested for help.
On reaching the scene, Ship CSB 8004 and patrol vessels of Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard updated each other on communication frequency and shared information related to possible locations of the victims provided by the operating center of Region 5 of the Japan Coast Guard. Later, an MH helicopter flew a mobile rescue team of the Japan Coast Guard to the scene. It spotted and rescued a victim. Ship CSB 8004 lowered a canoe to conduct the search mission and found the second victim who was taken to the ship for first aid before being handed over to Ship Tosa.
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Ship CSB 8004 safely arriving home on October 14 |
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Commander of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command Major General Tran Van Tho welcoming and encouraging the delegation |
Head of the Department of Search and Rescue of the Staff of the Vietnam Coast Guard Senior Colonel Phan Duy Cuong evaluated that the search and rescue exercise content was effectively carried out by the two sides. The outcomes came from the thorough preparation of the two sides and their close and harmonious coordination.
He added that through the exercise, the Vietnamese coast guards had the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and experience from their peers and enhance their skills of conducting search and rescue operations at sea.
After the exercise, crew-members on ships of the two sides bid farewell to each other. The Vietnamese delegation left Osaka port to return to Vietnam with full of unforgettable memories of the voyage which demonstrated the friendship, mutual understanding and trust between the two governments and cooperation between the two coast guard forces for waters of peace and stability in the region.
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Major General Tran Van Tho briefed on the outcomes of the Japan visit of Ship CSB 8004 |
According Senior Colonel Le Thanh Hai, the visit and exchange with the Japan Coast Guard met all set targets. Apart from political significance, the visit of Ship CSB 8004 offered Vietnamese coast guard officers and staff an opportunity to enhance command capabilities and mastery of weapons and equipment, acquire more experience in attending external defense relations activities. He added that the success of the visit would contribute to affirming the continuous development, role, and position of the Vietnam Coast Guard in the region and in the world.
Translated by Tran Hoai