One vessel of the U.S. navy and two ships of the Japanese self-defense forces arrived at Cam Ranh Port in south-central Vietnam on Saturday afternoon for activities to accelerate cooperation in the region.

The visit is part of the Pacific Partnership 2017 (PP17), a U.S. Navy-initiated mission to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.

The U.S. Navy’s expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s helicopter destroyer JS Izumo 183 and Takanami-class destroyer JS Sazanami 113 arrived at Cam Ranh for a training agenda revolving around humanitarian and medical aid.

According to Captain Stanfield Chien, PP17 mission commander, this year’s mission in Khanh Hoa Province would include seminars on civil construction projects, professional discussions and disaster response drills.

There would also be coordination in coastal health and marine search and rescue missions.

Naval forces of the three countries will preside over the completion of Hoa Mi and Son Ca kindergartens in Khanh Hoa, and the U.S. Seventh Fleet Band will be performing at local parks and a secondary school as part of the agenda.

The USNS Fall River belongs to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, measuring 103 meters in length with a beam of 28.5 meters and a draft of 3.83 meters.

The ship can reach a maximum speed of 43 nautical miles per hour and is capable of accommodating 312 crew members.

The USNS Fall River is docked at Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The USNS Fall River is docked at Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The USNS Fall River is docked at Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The JS Izumo (DDH-183) is a helicopter destroyer and the lead ship in the Izumo class of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The US$1.2 billion ship was launched in 2013 and commissioned in 2015, measuring 282 meters long and 38 meters wide with a loaded displacement of 27,500 metric tons.

The ship can reach 30 nautical miles per hour and is armed with three Phalanx CIWS and two SeaRAM CIWS weapon systems.

The JS Izumo 183 can carry up to 28 aircraft with space for nine helicopters on its deck at any given time, and is capable of conducting anti-submarine as well as humanitarian missions.

Meanwhile, the JS Sazanami (DD-113) measures 151 meters long, 17.4 meters wide and 10.9 meters high, with a draft of 5.3 meters.

The vessel has a standard displacement of 4,650 metric tons and 6,300 when fully loaded, and can carry 175 troops.

The Pacific Partnership 2017 ships had departed the central city of Da Nang on Thursday after completing ten days of disaster response training, medical and engineering expertise exchanges, cooperative health engagements, and community relations events.

Japan’s JS Izumo 183 (R) and JS Sazanami 113 are docked at Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Japan’s JS Sazanami 113 is docked at Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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