The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) recent hand over of a ship repair and maintenance facility, with ship lifting capability, to the Vietnam Coast Guard further enhanced Vietnam’s ability to protect its sovereignty and security.  This facility will buttress the Vietnam Coast Guard’s efforts to ensure freedom of navigation throughout its waters and safety for fisherman to operate in its waters.  Other facilities and support previously provided by DTRA included construction of four training and maintenance facility with boat simulation models.

Taken collectively, these efforts reaffirm the US’ commitment to support Vietnam remaining strong, independent and prosperous.  According to Dr. Robert Pope, Director of the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Department for DTRA, “All of this is to help Vietnam have a more comprehensive awareness of what is happening in the seas.”

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English Translation of Article

U.S. hands over more ship maintenance workshops to Vietnam Coast Guard 

05/05/2022 

• VOA Vietnamese 

The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has handed over an additional ship maintenance repair facility and lifting system to the Vietnam Coast Guard at a squadron in Hai Phong, in an effort to assist Vietnam in monitoring its waters to ensure freedom of navigation and trade. 

Dr. Robert Pope, Director of the Threat Reduction Cooperation Bureau, DTRA and other officials from Washington, D.C., and the Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper attended the handover ceremony at Coast Guard Area 1, According to the embassy. 

"Here we were welcomed by the Deputy Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard and attended the handover of the DTRA-funded ship maintenance facility, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to supporting a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam," Knapper said in a statement. 

Vietnamese media quoted Pope as saying the center could maintain larger vessels, helping them operate at sea more often and for longer. "That will assist Vietnam in monitoring its waters to ensure freedom of navigation and trade." 

It is known that in the past time, DTRA has supported the construction of 4 training and maintenance facilities for 4 Vietnam Coast Guard areas, according to which the US side provides a model of simulating ships so that Vietnamese sailors can learn how to control and improve the ability to use ships to serve patrol activities, Better protection of sovereignty. 

In April 2021, the US handed over a training center, maintenance workshop and seaport infrastructure to Vietnam at Coast Guard Zone 3 in Khanh Hoa. 

Col. Thomas M. Stevenson, the U.S. defense attaché in Vietnam, told an earlier news conference that the U.S. has so far delivered a total of 24 Metal Shark high-speed patrol boats and two Hamilton-class patrol boats and is considering the delivery of a third ship. 

At the same time, the U.S. side also supported Vietnam with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to help Vietnamese Coast Guard vessels expand their visibility, according to Colonel Stevenson. 

Pope said the U.S. and Vietnam Coast Guard have also discussed the possibility of building a maritime coordination center that can connect data through new equipment such as ScanEagle UAVs or future sensors. 

Pope added: "All of this is intended to help Vietnam have a more comprehensive awareness of what is happening in the seas. From there, Vietnam can take the necessary actions to protect its sovereignty and security." 

Colonel Stevenson said: "Our efforts not only ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring vietnam's sovereign security, but also provide a safe sea for fishermen to operate, thereby promoting economic development."