Japanese coast guard sails to Da Nang

According to the coastal city’s Department of Information and Communications, the Settsu’s crew will pay a courtesy visit to the city on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Crew members will engage in exchanges and training with soldiers and officers of the 2nd Regional Coast Guard, which manages the waters off Vietnam’s central coast, to enhance coordination between the Japan Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Settsu is tasked with patrolling mainly against pirates and other armed criminals.

It has 52 crew members, captained by Colonel Satoshi Niwa.

The Japan Coast Guard sent its first vessel to Vietnam for a friendly visit in June 2012, and has maintained such visits annually ever since.

In 2019, the Vietnam Coast Guard sent its first ship to the Japanese Coast Guard in Yokohama City.

The Vietnam Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard are both members of the Information Sharing Center Against Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

The two sides have established contact points to exchange information. Prior to its trip to Da Nang, Settsu has been patrolling the waters of Southeast Asia.