PHNOM PENH: Two Japanese Navy ships docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port for a three-day visit to Cambodia to conduct goodwill exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Cambodian Navy to increase trust and strengthen ties.

According to Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, In Sokhemra, he and several admirals welcomed two Japanese Navy ships: the JS URAGA and JS AWAJI on the morning of 24 April 2023.

The ships, under the leadership of Commander of Minesweeper Division One, Captain Nakai Eiichi, will stay from 24-26 April, during which the navies of both countries will conduct exercises and exchanges meant to boost friendship ties between the two.

The JS URAGA (MST-463) is commanded by Matsunaga Akihito, has a top speed of 41 kilometers per hour, and measures 141 meters long, 22 meters wide, 5.4 meters deep and weighs 5,650 tons. It carries 170 people and one helicopter.

Taguchi Takuma commands the JS AWAJI (MSO-304) which measures 66.8 meters long, 11 meters wide, 2.7 meters deep, and weighs 690 tons. It can reach up to 26 kilometers per hour and holds about 54 people.

This is the second visit of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to Cambodia in 2023. The Japanese Navy destroyer JS Kirisame docked at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on 28 March, where it trained new active duty officers for missions at sea. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Cambodia and Japan.