Japanese naval training ships to visit province

TWO Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Training Squadron ships, JS Kashima and JS Inazuma, are calling at East New Britain’s Rabaul this week.
JMSDF commander R/Admiral Daisuke Kajimoto is currently conducting an overseas training cruise in the Pacific with about 580 crew members, including 190 newly commissioned naval officers.
The training cruise is aimed at developing the leadership skills of the new officers in the practical maritime environment.
JMSDF has been conducting such annual training cruises since 1957. Its last port call to Papua New Guinea (PNG) was in 2014.
During the port call from Thursday to Sunday, an eight-point exchange programme has been arranged for the crew and the officers to meet with some PNG Government officials and the Embassy of Japan.