Vietnamese patrol ship arriving in Manila for port call, exercises

A patrol ship of the Vietnamese Coast Guard (VCG) will arrive in Manila on Monday, Aug. 5, for a four-day port call which includes maritime exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan will lead the welcoming ceremony for CSB 8002 and her 80-strong Vietnamese delegation led by VCG Region 2 Vice Commander Col. Hoang Quoc Dat at the Coast Guard Fleet, Port Area.
Gavan said that the port call aims to “foster mutual understanding and enhance cooperation between the two coast guards.”
After the arrival ceremony, PCG officials will board the CSB 8002 for a vessel tour. The Vietnamese delegation will then pay a courtesy visit on Gavan at the PCG National Headquarters, and a fellowship sports activity at the PCG Gymnasium.
The PCG and VCG will also conduct a planning conference for the search and rescue (SAR) and fire and explosion prevention training which will be held in the vicinity waters of Manila Bay.
“There will also be a facility visit at the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) and Marine Science Investigation Force (MSIF) Laboratory, as well as a vessel tour on board the 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301),” PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said.
“CSB 8002 will depart the Philippine waters after a comprehensive debriefing and evaluation of the joint PCG-VCG initiative,” he added. The finaly day of the visit is on Aug. 9.
Earlier this year, President Marcos Jr. and Gavan visited Hanoi where they tackled the strong bilateral relations between the two coast guard organizations with Vietnamese officials.
The PCG and VCG formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation on January 30 to strengthen both forces’ understanding, mutual trust, and confidence.
Under the MOU, the PCG and VCG agreed to develop a Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) to discuss common issues and interests and establish a hotline communication mechanism.
Gavan emphasized that the initiative enhances the strategic partnership between the PCG and toward promoting, preserving, and protecting their mutual interest in the Southeast Asian region.