‘Mideast waters important for Japanese vessels’

More than 25 per cent of Japanese vessels make trade visits to the Middle East region every month, making the region highly important for Japan, according to senior members of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.

The high number of visits to the region signifies the importance that Japan attaches to the region, said H Izumi Commander of Japan Training Squadron.

He was speaking to Tribune yesterday during a reception held on board a Japanese ship that recently arrived in Bahrain for joint exercises between the Japanese Training Squadron and their Bahraini counterparts.

The Japanese Training squadron is composed of two vessels JS Kashima and JS Makinami. The squadron is on its way to visit 12 ports in 10 countries with Mina Salman being the fourth port of call.

“Middle East is an important region for Japan, this is a route for transporting oil and other important commodities, many Japanese ships visit this area. One fourth of the Japanese vessels passes this area every month,” Izumi said.