The Japan Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard conducted joint SAR exercises of the patrol vessel KOJIMA and USCG patrol boats and aircrafts off the coast of San Diego, USA, on 14 May 2023.

1. OUTLINE

• ・Schedule
  　14 May 2023 15:00-1700 (PDT)
  　15 May 2023 07:00-0900 (JST)
• ・Location
  　Off the coast of San Diego, California, USA
• ・Fleet
  　<JCG>
  　・Patrol vessel Kojima(PL-21)
  　<USCG>
  　・Robert Ward(WPC-1130)
  　・C-27J Fixed wing aircraft
  　・MH-60J helicopter
  
• ・Description
  　Communications / Search&Rescue

2. SUMMARY

• ・The JCG and the USCG have been building deep cooperative relations since the JCG was established in 1948. On several occasions, we have strengthened these relations, including in 2010, when we concluded a memorandum of cooperation (MoC).
• ・Recently, cooperative efforts between the JCG and the USCG have become more important, in order to promote efforts to maintain and strengthen maritime order based on the rule of law, so as to achieve a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
• ・Therefore, we are striving to promote joint operations and joint exercises, having signed an annex to the MoC in 2022.
• ・These joint efforts of the JCG and the USCG are named SAPPHIRE. They make robust use of the cooperative relationship. These joint exercises are the second effort under SAPPHIRE in 2023.
• ・Through these exercises, both the JCG and the USCG confirmed methods of communication and information sharing, as well as the sequence of search and rescue operations, and shared techniques and knowledge of SAR. Furthermore, the training provided a great opportunity for the trainees to learn the importance of cooperation with foreign coast guard agencies.
• ・The JCG will continue to promote cooperation and collaboration with the USCG through the combined efforts of the JCG and the USCG, in order to realize FOIP.

PHOTO