REPORT FROM THE US COAST GUARD –A Chinese Maritime Safety Administration ship is scheduled to make a historic first visit to the United States during a port call in Honolulu Tuesday.
Representatives from the 14th Coast Guard District will host the crew of the Haixun 31 who will arrive in Honolulu Harbor and remain in port until September 8. The arrival will be followed by a ceremony hosted by Rear. Adm. Charles Ray, commander 14th Coast Guard District, and attended by Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. The Chinese delegation will include Chinese Vice Consul General Sun Dewei from Los Angeles, Chinese Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration Director General Liang Jianwei, Chinese Guangdong Deputy Director General Cao Desheng and Capt. Chen Qingli, commanding officer of Haixun 31.
The Haixun 31 will be escorted into Aloha Tower at 3 p.m. by a parade of ships that will include the Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island and the Honolulu Fire Department fireboat Moku Ahi.
The Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Safety Administration are scheduled to conduct a joint search and rescue table top exercise and on water exercise in Honolulu. These exercises will serve as the building blocks towards a cooperative partnership and facilitate discussions of maritime search and rescue and environmental protection measures that are of mutual interest to both agencies.
“This historic engagement further improves the coordination of search and rescue operations at sea,” said Rear. Adm, Charles Ray, commander 14th Coast Guard District. “This is the first visit to the United States by the Haixun 31 and is an opportunity to strengthen our relationship on a number of common maritime missions.”
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration have been engaging since 1987 on many maritime issues. This visit represents a continuing opportunity to collaborate on search and rescue to improve competencies and cooperation.