Japanese Maritime Training Underway

Maritime capabilities of the Fiji Police Force will be further boosted following a week-long training on the handling, maintenance and operations of Rigid inflatable boats donated by the Japanese Government under Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme.

The training is facilitated by Mr. Masafumi Tominaga, Mr. Ryouji Takuma and Mr. Yoshinori Yamamoto who arrived in the country earlier this week.

Speaking on behalf of the trainers, Mr Masafumi Tominaga said the pandemic had prevented initial plans to conduct the training following the handing over in March 2021.

The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said the organization had been looking forward to the conduct of the training.

“These boats will assist us with operations during natural disasters and our ability to deploy teams quickly , counter narcotics and if everything goes well, we could deploy them as early as Saturday”.

The rigid inflatable boats were part of the $5.5 million grant aid provided by the Japanese Government which included a patrol boat, rigid inflatable boats, rescue boats, diving equipment, underwater communication system and underwater cameras. 

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