Japanese coast guard vessel begins visit to Vietnam The Japan Coast Guard training vessel Kojima docks at Tien Sa Seaport in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on July 25, 2016. Tuoi Tre A ship from the Japanese Coast Guard arrived at a seaport in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on Monday, commencing its official visit to the Southeast Asian country. The Japan Coast Guard training vessel Kojima carrying 91 naval officers and sailors docked at Tien Sa Seaport in Da Nang City in the morning. Their visit is scheduled for July 25 to 29. Captained by Colonel Nanaura Hiroyuki, the ship is 115 meters long and weighs 3,000 metric tons with a maximum velocity of up to 18 nautical miles per hour. The visiting delegation was welcomed by representatives of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command, the Da Nang People’s Committee, the municipal Border Guard, and other local officials.   A crew member of the Japan Coast Guard vessel (L) shakes hands with a representative of the Vietnam Coast Guard on July 25, 2016.Photo: Tuoi Tre Coast guard forces from Vietnam and Japan have both been active members of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The two parties have developed tight cooperation in the enforcement of maritime law over the years. Established in September 2006, ReCAAP is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in the continent and has now been joined by 20 states. This is the first official visit of the Japan Coast Guard after signing the memorandum of cooperation with its Vietnamese counterpart in September 2015. During their time in the central Vietnamese city, crew members of the training vessel Kojima are expected to meet with local leaders, naval forces and participate in a friendly sports competition with Vietnam Coast Guard officers. TUOI TRE NEWS