CHENNAI, India — The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) training vessel Itsukushima, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, arrived at Chennai Port on July 7 as part of a global ocean voyage aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation and regional security.
The week-long port call highlights deepening ties between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the JCG, reinforcing their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific. The visit will feature a series of high-level bilateral meetings, professional exchanges, cultural programs, and a joint sea exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two forces.
During the stop, crew members from both nations will participate in courtesy calls, reciprocal ship visits, training sessions, yoga, and sporting events. The visit will culminate in a joint maritime exercise, ‘Jaa Mata,’ meaning “see you later,” scheduled for July 12.
As a symbol of growing collaboration, four ICG officers will embark on Itsukushima as Sea Riders for its onward journey to Singapore, continuing a longstanding tradition of professional exchange between the two coast guards.
The engagement builds on the 2006 Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan, aligning with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and underscoring shared commitments to maritime security and regional stability.
