The United States Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, based out of Alameda, California, visited Japan in October 2007 as part of her patrol in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The Boutwell's mission on this far-reaching patrol includes working with partner nations to protect the environment by intercepting vessels engaged in illegal high-seas driftnet fishing and promoting the safety of human life at sea by participating in joint training exercises. This cooperation is made possible by the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum, which was initiated by the Japan Coast Guard in 2000 as a venue to foster multilateral cooperation through sharing information on matters related to combined operations, illegal drug trafficking, maritime security, fisheries enforcement, illegal migration, and maritime domain awareness.

Earlier in the Boutwell's patrol, a Japan Coast Guard long range maritime patrol aircraft identified possible high-seas driftnet fishing vessels five hundred miles east of Hokkaido, Japan. Utilizing the data provided by the Japan Coast Guard aircraft, the Boutwell was able to locate the targeted vessels. Further investigation determined that one of the Chinese fishing vessels was rigged for illegal high-seas driftnet fishing. With the help of the Japan Coast Guard aircraft and a Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command officer onboard the Boutwell, the vessel was apprehended and ultimately turned over to Chinese authorities.

In addition to these operations, the Boutwell worked with the Japan Coast Guard on joint training exercises. On October 16 the Boutwell arrived in Ise Bay off Nagoya to conduct a joint search and rescue (SAR) exercise with the Japan Coast Guard. During the SAR exercise, each coast guard vessel had the opportunity to demonstrate shipboard medical evacuations. Recovering a simulated victim from a distressed vessel, helicopters from each agency transported the injured to the other nation's coast guard vessel.

The Boutwell's HH-65C helicopter deployed an aircrew member to the 75-foot Japanese Patrol Boat Shiraito to prepare the patient for hoisting and further transfer to the 427-foot Japanese Cutter Mizuho. Simultaneously, a Japanese Bell 212 helicopter launched from the Mizuhoand deployed two technicians to the Boutwell for a similar rescue.

After completing the medical evacuation, the HH-65C landed on the Mizuho to complete the patient transfer. According to officers on board the Mizuho, this was the first U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to land on a Japan Coast Guard cutter in history.

After the SAR, the Boutwell arrived in the Port of Nagoya where the crew participated in vessel boarding exercises with the Japan Coast Guard. Both sides demonstrated boarding techniques and then discussed ways to improve their tactics to enhance their shared mission of protecting human life at sea.

After their official duties, the crew of the Boutwell enjoyed the sights and sounds of Nagoya. They played their Japan Cost Guard counterparts in a few friendly games of baseball and explored Sakae, JR Towers and other hotspots in downtown Nagoya. They also visited Nagoya Castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum among other places of cultural interest.

(All photos courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard PA2 Jonathan Cilley.)

Thanks to the joint activities conducted by the crew of the Boutwell and their Japan Coast Guard counterparts, Ise Bay and the rest of the Northwestern Pacific are safer and more environmentally sound. The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya look forward to continuing this unique bilateral cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard.

To learn more about the USCGC Boutwell, click here.