MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) partnered with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Malaysia and Japan for a 12-day Vessel Boarding Officer Course in San Fernando, La Union.
A statement issued by the US embassy announced that its USCG together with the PCG, the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency or the Malaysian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) engaged in a Vessel Boarding Officer Course in La Union from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1.
The Vessel Boarding Officer Course of the USCG’s Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT) reportedly served as a cornerstone of effective maritime law enforcement operations by preparing personnel to safely conduct vessel boarding at sea, the US embassy said.
The training, the first to be held in Northern Luzon, is funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
There were instructors from the USCG, PCG, Malaysian Coast Guard and the JCG, with 23 members of the PCG District Northwestern Luzon, PCG District Northeastern Luzon and PNP-MG Regional Maritime Unit attending the training course.