The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise-2021 held with the participation of Sri Lanka Navy, United States 7th Fleet and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from 24th to 30th June 2021 in the Trincomalee harbour and off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka concluded on a successful note, the Sri Lankan Navy said in its statement.
The closing ceremony of the multi-lateral naval exercise was held virtually at the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee on 30th June 2021.
“Working in coordinated deployment, 02 Offshore Patrol Vessels of Sri Lanka Navy, air assets of Sri Lanka Air Force, a Littoral Combat Ship, its ship borne helicopter and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the United States 7th Fleet, a destroyer and its ship borne helicopter of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force augmented CARAT-21.
The wide array of exercises including; Divisional Tactics (DIVTACs), Night Steaming, Replenishment at Sea (RAS), Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQs), Tracking Exercise (TRACKEX), Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) etc. made way for the participants to hone their skills, learn each other’s tactics and gain a better understanding of the marine environment,” the SL Navy said.
On the flip side, the experience and tactics used by Sri Lanka Navy, which regularly conducts operations to combat wide ranging nefarious activities including drug trafficking and human smuggling in the Indian Ocean Region will be vital to the US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force to promote secure seas in world over, the SL Navy further said in the statement.
