United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard carried out a trilateral search-and-rescue exercise in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Victoria, British Columbia, on May 21, designed to sharpen interoperability, communication and coordination during complex maritime emergencies.
Crews worked through a simulated sailing vessel in distress that required multinational teamwork to locate, recover and transport mock casualties. The scenarios exercised joint communications, coordinated search patterns and the safe transfer of personnel between ships from different nations.
Participants also operated alongside the Japan Coast Guard training vessel Itsukushima, providing an opportunity to collaborate with future Japan Coast Guard officers, exchange best practices and reinforce the longstanding partnership among the three Pacific Rim services.
“This exercise represents a critical opportunity for our nations to train together in the demanding environment of the Pacific Northwest,” said Douglas Samp, Coast Guard Pacific Area Search and Rescue Program Manager. “Search and rescue is a universal language. By working deck-to-deck and in the air with our partners from Canada and Japan, we ensure that when a real emergency occurs, our combined response is swift, seamless, and effective.”
Participating units included:
– United States Coast Guard:
– Coast Guard Cutter Osprey (WPB-87307)
– 45-foot Response Boat–Medium from Coast Guard Station Port Angeles
– MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles
– Canadian Coast Guard:
– Joint Rescue Coordination Center Victoria
– Motor Lifeboat Cape Calvert
– Canadian Coast Guard Ship Tanu
– Canadian Coast Guard Ship Legacy
– Japan Coast Guard:
– JCG Vessel Itsukushima
The exercise concluded by demonstrating the three services’ ability to operate together during demanding maritime incidents.
The Japan Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard continue to deepen their cooperation through SAPPHIRE—the Solid Alliance for Peace and Prosperity with Humanity and Integrity on the Rule-of-law based Engagement—a framework focused on enhancing maritime domain awareness, upholding international standards and supporting a stable, free and open maritime environment across the region.
