Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Ship Itsukushima, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, arrived at Chennai Port on 7 July 2025 as part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training, marking a significant moment in Japan’s growing maritime collaboration with India. The week-long visit reaffirms the robust strategic partnership between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and JCG in the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of the port call, a series of bilateral engagements have been planned between the two coast guards, including high-level meetings, reciprocal ship visits, and joint professional exchanges. The programme also features yoga sessions, sporting events, and cultural interactions between the two contingents, fostering camaraderie and operational synergy. The visit will conclude with a joint sea exercise titled Jaa Mata (“See You Later”) on 12 July 2025, designed to enhance interoperability and maritime readiness.
Reflecting the shared commitment to regional maritime security, four officers from the Indian Coast Guard will embark on Itsukushima as Sea Riders for its onward voyage to Singapore, continuing a longstanding tradition of personnel exchange and professional training.
The visit is rooted in the 2006 Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan and aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision as well as the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which emphasise regional collaboration and rule-based maritime order.
The arrival of Itsukushima at Chennai underscores the mutual goal of ensuring a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific and reinforces the operational partnership between the two nations’ maritime forces.
