Japan Gifts Patrol Ship to Vietnam After Upgrade

HANOI, -- Vietnamese Coast Guard Command in Da Nang on Thursday received the first of three used patrol ships gifted by the Japanese government.

The Syokaku was built in 1991 with a full load displacement of 725 tons.

The vessel is 56.7 meters long and sails at 12.5 nautical miles an hour.

This gift is part of Japan’s support to help increase the capacity of Vietnamese coast guards, officials said at the ceremony Thursday.

It has been upgraded and will be fit for sea patrols and for security and rescue operations.