Two Japanese Navy (Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force) Ships called at the port here on Wednesday after completing their four month anti-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Aden.
The ships— JDS Murasame and JDS Harusame — arrived even as the Indian and Japanese navies completed JIMEX-12, the first ever naval exercise between the two countries off Tokyo last week.
Captain Katsuya Yamamoto, Commander, Escort Division One of JMSDF, arrived aboard JDS Murasame as the senior officer of the visiting Japanese team.
The ships were received at berth by representatives from the Southern Naval Command with the band in attendance. Captain Yamamoto and commanding officers of the two ships called on Rear Admiral S.Y. Shrikhande, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, on Thursday. The itinerary of the Japanese Navy on Friday includes briefings on anti-piracy measures besides other professional exchanges.
There will also be ‘Passex' - passage exercise at sea between the two navies as the Japanese warships leave Kochi on Saturday morning.
In another event, the Southern Naval Command hosted 73 international student officers from 15 countries who have commenced their specialisation courses at various training schools at the Naval Base.
In his welcome address on Wednesday evening, Rear Admiral Shrikhande wished them a professionally and personally rewarding experience in ‘Gods Own Country' and with the Indian Navy.
He said their presence at the training command of the Indian Navy was a very important manifestation of the good relationship between their countries and India.
