Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Itsukushima’ Arrives in Chennai to Strengthen India-Japan Maritime Ties

IN NEWS – Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Itsukushima’ Arrives in Chennai to Strengthen India–Japan Maritime Ties

Analysis

• The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Ship ‘Itsukushima’, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, arrived at Chennai Port on 07 July 2025 as part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training.
• The visit underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The week-long visit features high-level bilateral meetings, joint professional and cultural exchanges, and a sea exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination between the two maritime forces.

Key Highlights

• During the port call, both sides will conduct:
  • Courtesy visits and reciprocal ship tours.
  • Joint training sessions, yoga, and sporting events for cultural exchange.
  • A joint sea exercise ‘Jaa Mata’ (See You Later) scheduled for 12 July 2025, emphasizing mutual trust and operational cooperation.
• A symbolic step in cooperation – four ICG officers will embark on Itsukushima to Singapore as Sea Riders, continuing the tradition of professional exchange and maritime fellowship.
• The engagement aligns with the 2006 Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan, which institutionalized collaboration between the two coast guards.
• The exercise reaffirms shared visions of maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Static / Background Information

• India–Japan Maritime Cooperation:
  • Formalized under the 2006 MoC between ICG and JCG for regular exchanges and joint exercises.
  • Includes annual meetings, professional exchanges, and reciprocal ship visits.
  • Focus areas: Search and Rescue (SAR), pollution response, anti-piracy, and law enforcement at sea.
• SAGAR Vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region):
  • Announced by India in 2015 to promote regional maritime security and prosperity.
  • Encourages cooperative and inclusive maritime engagement in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific.
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI):
  • Launched by India in 2019, focusing on maritime security, connectivity, and sustainable development.
  • Japan is one of the key partners in advancing IPOI’s pillars of cooperation.
• Exercise ‘Jaa Mata’:
  • A bilateral sea exercise symbolizing friendship and “see-you-later” spirit, reinforcing operational synergy between the ICG and JCG.

Updated – 07 Jul 2025 ; 6:40 PM | PIB