Philippine, Japan coast guards to hold exercise off Manila Bay

MANILA -- The Philippines and Japan coast guards are set to conduct bilateral exercise about combating piracy and armed robbery at sea this week off Manila Bay, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

The 6th Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Exercise will be held on Wednesday.

The Japan Coast Guard vessel PHL02 Tsugaru, which is set to arrive and dock at South Harbor Manila Monday, will participate in the joint exercise to be joined also by the delegates of PCG Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command, together with other government law enforcement agencies and representatives from Malaysia, Australia and U.S. as observers.

PHL02 Tsugaru will participate in the activity with their assets which include a helicopter (Helicopter Bell 412) and rigid hull inflatable boat for board, search and seizure procedure, while the PCG will deploy its floating and air assets.

PHL02 Tsugaru is a 105.40-meter crude oil tanker of 3,324 gross tonnage, owned by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport based at Hakodate Coast Guard Office in Tokyo, Japan.