The Indian Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard held their 7th High-Level Meeting at the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters in Chennai on 25 August 2026. The meeting was held under the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation and was co-chaired by Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Vietnam Coast Guard Vice Commandant Major General Luong Dinh Hung.
Coast Guard Cooperation Framework
The 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation provides the institutional framework for bilateral engagement between the two maritime agencies. Coast guard cooperation commonly covers maritime safety, law enforcement, search and rescue, pollution response, and information exchange.
Chennai Port and Kattupalli Visit
On 24 August 2026, the Vietnam Coast Guard ship CSB 8002 arrived at Chennai Port with a six-member delegation led by Major General Luong Dinh Hung. The delegation also visited the L&T Shipbuilding facility at Kattupalli to observe India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
Areas of Maritime Cooperation
The bilateral discussions covered Maritime Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Pollution Response, and institutional capacity building. Both sides agreed to increase regular institutional interactions, expand joint training programmes, and increase reciprocal ship visits.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Indian Coast Guard was established in 1977 and functions under the Ministry of Defence.
- The Vietnam Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement force of Vietnam.
- Search and rescue at sea is commonly abbreviated as SAR in maritime administration.
- Joint maritime exercises are used by coast guards to practise communication, coordination, and interoperability.
Joint Exercise SAHYOG-HOPTAC
The second edition of the joint maritime exercise SAHYOG-HOPTAC is scheduled to be conducted at sea off the coast of Chennai on 27 August 2026. Bilateral coast guard exercises are used for operational familiarisation and coordinated maritime response.
