Indo-Japan Coast Guard joint exercise to be held on January 15

CHENNAI: A joint sea exercise between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards will be held on January 15 here, aimed at strengthening relationship and refine the joint operating procedures between the coast guards of the two nations.

"A joint exercise between Indian and Japan Coast Guard named Sahyog-Kaijin-XV is scheduled to be held in the Bay of Bengal off Chennai on 15 January," a Coast Guard release said here today.

Japan Coast Guard ship 'Echigo' will be visiting Chennai between January 11-16 and a highlight of the exercise includes a "scenario of hijacking of a merchant vessel and subsequent rescue in a combined coast guard operation of both countries," the release said.

The exercise would be jointly witnessed by the Director General, Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Bisht, and Vice Amdiral Hideyo Hanamizu, Vice commandant of the Japanese Coast Guard besides other top officials.

The Japanese delegation would be calling on dignitaries of Tamil Nadu during its stay here, the release said.