Japanese warships visit Kochi

KOCHI: Two warships of the Japanese Navy Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Japanese Defence Ship Samidare and JDS Umigiri, berthed at Kochi on Thursday. The ships were en route to their anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.The destroyers, captained by Hideyuki Ooban, Commander Escort Division Four, were received at the entrance of the harbour by INS Kabra.Akitaka Saiki, Ambassador of Japan in India, arrived in Kochi for the occasion and was at the jetty to receive the warships. The Southern Naval Command band was also in attendance at the formal reception accorded to the visiting ships on berthing at the jetty.The itinerary for the visiting ships included mutual visits and other exchanges.The ambassador, accompanied by the Defense Attache of Japan, met Vice-Admiral K N Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, at the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command. He also visited some of the naval training facilities. Later, in a briefing for the visiting delegation, the two sides exchanged their knowledge and experience on anti-piracy operations.Japan Maritime SelfDefence Force has been contributing to international antipiracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden for more than two years like the Indian Navy which has been carrying out antipiracy patrols in the region since October 2008.