Japanese CNO Visits NAVCENT

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Chief of Maritime Staff Adm. Eiji Yoshikawa and Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain Takeshi Kondo met with Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/Commander U.S. 5th Fleet on July 11.

The visit began with a luncheon held at NAVCENT to welcome Yoshikawa and was followed up with a tour of other commands on the installation, such as the Coalition Coordination Center, Combined Forces Maritime Component Command (CFMCC), where the Japanese senior national representative, Cmdr. Kenji Sugahara, works.

A Japanese forward-deployed ship for Operation Enduring Freedom, JDS Suzunami (DD 114), assisted in a rescue at sea in the Gulf of Oman on July 12 at the request of Combined Task Force 150. JDS Suzunami and her airborne Helicopter aided the South Korean-flagged motor vessel Orchid Sun with evacuation support and medical assistance.

NAVCENT/ U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime operations to help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts in regional nations’ littoral waters. Coalition forces also conduct maritime operations under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region.

From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs