Japan Coast Guard training ship arrives in Manila for 4-day visit

MANILA, July 17 ------ The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) training vessel Itsukushima (PL 23) arrived in Manila for a four-day port visit aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and professional exchanges between the Philippines and Japan.

The visit marks Itsukushima‘s final overseas port of call before returning to Japan under the JCG’s Global Ocean Training Voyage for this year. During the visit, Philippine and Japanese coast guard personnel will take part in courtesy calls, facility and ship tours, sports activities, onboard engagements, and other exchanges designed to further deepen the partnership between the two maritime agencies.

The voyage began on May 1 in Kure, Japan, and has taken Itsukushima to Victoria and Vancouver in Canada; San Francisco and Honolulu in the United States; Sydney, Australia; and Singapore before arriving in Manila. The Global Ocean Training Voyage is part of the practical overseas training program of the JCG Academy, allowing postgraduate trainees to gain hands-on experience in ship operations, navigation, leadership, and maritime safety through international deployments.

Commissioned on July 1, 2024, Itsukushima is one of the JCG’s newest training vessels. The 134-meter vessel has a gross tonnage of 5,500 tons and serves as a dedicated platform for training future JCG officers. On board are 123 personnel composed of 54 officers and crew members, 68 trainees, and one medical doctor.

GROWING PHILIPPINES-JAPAN TIES

Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, commanding officer of Itsukushima, said he hoped the visit would further strengthen the already close relationship between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the JCG. “I’m expecting the next four days during my visit to the Philippines [would] further strengthen the friendship between the PCG and JCG,” Mizoguchi told reporters in an interview. “I believe the strong bond between the Philippines and Japan will contribute to further strengthen the future,” he added.

TWO FILIPINOS AMONG NINE INTERNATIONAL SHIP RIDERS

Also on board are nine ship riders from coast guard and maritime law enforcement agencies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. Among them are PCG officers Lieutenant Junior Grade Raffy Larrobis and Ensign Rosaldo Gabat, who boarded the vessel in Singapore and would remain on board until the ship reaches Japan. PCG Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for International Affairs Commodore Algier Ricafrente said the participation is part of the regular capacity-building program between the two coast guards. “It’s under the capacity building program with the JCG. Ito ay regular na ginagawa, hindi lang dito sa barko, kundi maging sa training programs in-country and out of the country na binibigay nila sa atin,” Ricafrente said.

According to Larrobis, participating in the voyage allows Philippine personnel to exchange best practices with Japanese counterparts and fellow trainees from across the Indo-Pacific. “Malaking bagay na naging parte ang PCG ng Itsukushima training vessel. Malaking bagay din ang best practice na nashare namin, tsaka ang JCG and Indo-Pacific trainees. They share their knowledge to the PCG,” Larrobis said. “Habang nasa biyahe kami, nag-conduct din kami ng trainings with the JCG,” he said.

Despite differences in culture, Larrobis said both coast guards share the same goal of learning from one another. “Yung kultura, iba-iba ang kultura. Pero iisa ang mungkahi na matuto tayo. Sila rin, natuturuan din natin ng shared experiences,” he noted. Gabat added that international ship riders are scheduled to visit the JICA Yokohama Center and participate in several professional engagements. “It’s a good experience na nagkaroon kami ng opportunity na makajoin dito sa activity,” Gabat said. “We look forward na magkaroon kami ng knowledge and experience in operating large vessels like this one.”

ENCOUNTER WITH CHINA COAST GUARD

From Singapore to Manila, Itsukushima encountered a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel while transiting waters that included portions of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. Mizoguchi, however, stressed that the encounter did not interfere with the vessel’s mission. “We happened to align with the China Coast Guard vessel on the way here, but we just continued our mission and voyage to Manila,” the official noted.

Instead, he said the encounter became a valuable learning opportunity for trainees. “We happen to encounter the CCG vessel in the sea. But we take it as an advantage and a good opportunity to teach the trainees on board that these things happen during our operations,” Mizoguchi added.

PCG EYEING DEDICATED TRAINING VESSEL

The PCG also hopes to acquire its own dedicated training vessel in the future, according to Ricafrente. He explained that such a vessel would allow cadets to continuously train without disrupting operational deployments. “Kasama rin iyan sa ating mga tinitignan sa ating modernization dahil kailangan din nating ma-enhance ang skills ng ating officers, especially ang cadets natin,” the official said.

For now, the PCG relies on ship rider programs with partner coast guards while cadets conduct training aboard operational vessels. “Bilang unang hakbang, we undertake ang ship riders’ programs na pinoprovide kagaya ng JCG,” Ricafrente said. “Habang wala pa tayong dedicated training vessel, ang ating mga kadete ay nagtitraining sa mga existing na barko natin na ginagamit sa ating operations.” “Importante po yun kasi ang mga dedicated na barko natin for operations, kung nade-deploy, hindi natin alam kailan babalik, depende sa deployment niya. Para hindi mahamper ang training programs ng cadets, kung may ganitong training vessel tayo, tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang training at mga kailangang matutunan on board,” he added.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com