Japan Coast Guard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Japan Coast Guard (海上保安庁 Kaijō Ho'an-chō?), known until 2000 as the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese Coast Guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and is responsible for protecting the coast lines of Japan. It was founded in 1949.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The duties of the JCG include:
- Search and rescue
- Hydrographic and oceangraphic surveying
- Maritime traffic management
[edit] Command Structure
The Japan Coast Guard is led by Commandant Ishikawa Hiroki and 2 Vice Commanders. Lower ranking officers include the director general, directors and inspector generals.
The JCG is divided into departments:
- Administration
- Equipment and Technology
- Hydrographic and Oceangraphic
- Maritime Traffic
The Japan Coast Guard Academy is a university established within the Coast Guard for the purpose of training students to become officers. It is located in Kure, Hiroshima prefecture.
Additionally, the JCG has two special forces units: the Special Security Team (SST) (特殊警備隊 Tokushu Keibi Tai?) and the Special Rescue Team (SRT) (特殊救難隊 Tokushu Kyūnan Tai?).
[edit] History
Founded in 1948 as the Maritime Safety Agency of Japan, its English name was changed to Japan Coast Guard in April 2000[1].
In 1950, the Maritime Safety Agency sent minesweepers to the Korean Peninsula under the United Nations flag during the Korea War.
In action of 22 December 2001, JCG ships intercepted a Chinese (PRC)-flagged vessel believed to be North Korean in origin, in the Japanese EEZ between Kyushu and China. When the vessel failed to respond, she was fired upon by the JCG and an exchange of gunfire resulted. The unidentified vessel sank in the Chinese EEZ with all hands.[2] The ship, later salvaged by the JCG, was found to be carrying weapons and spy equipment.[3] The wreck and its contents were put on display at the Japanese Coast Guard Museum at Yokohama.[4]
[edit] Operational Regions
- 1st Region: Otaru
- 2nd Region: Shiogama
- 3rd Region: Yokohama
- 4th Region: Nagoya
- 5th Region: Kobe
- 6th Region: Hiroshima
- 7th Region: Kitakyushu
- 8th Region: Maiduru
- 9th Region: Niigata
- 10th Region: Kagoshima
- 11th Region: Naha
[edit] Fleet
see List of Japan Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.
[edit] References
- ^ New Fighting Power! Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ^ 国境を守る海上保安庁. (Japanese)
- ^ 北朝鮮 工作船. (Japanese)
- ^ 海上保安資料館 横浜館-Japan Coast Guard Museum YOKOHAMA-. (Japanese)
[edit] External links
- JCG Academy Official Site (Japanese)
- Official Site (Japanese)
| North: Republic of Korea Coast Guard | ||
| West: PLAN Coast Guard | Japan Coast Guard | East: United States Coast Guard |
| South: Philippine Coast Guard Republic of China Coast Guard |
|
|||||
