Japanese war ships on anti-piracy mission dock in Colombo Port

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Navy, in accordance with naval traditions, welcomed two Japanese war ships on their arrival at the Colombo Port. Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) destroyers, Ariake DD- 109 and Setogiri DD- 156 arrived at the Port of Colombo on 12 August for logistics requirements. The ships are en route for counter piracy operations off the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

Head of the team, Commander Escort Division 7, Captain Hirofumi Shimizu and the Ships’ Commanding Officers, Commander Yoshihiro Kai and Commander Toshiyuki Iwanami, paid a courtesy call on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe of the Sri Lanka Navy at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. Ariake, with two helicopters onboard, is 150.5 metres in length with a displacement of 4,550 tons and consists of a complement of 200 naval personnel. Setogiri, with a helicopter onboard, is 137 metres in length and has a displacement of 3,550 tons. It also consists of a complement of 200 naval personnel. The Japanese naval personnel on the destroyers will participate in a special program organised by the Sri Lanka Navy during their stay in Sri Lanka. The visiting Japanese ships will stay in Sri Lanka until today (14).