Japan to dispatch MSDF destroyers on anti-piracy mission on March 14

Japan is to send two Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyers on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia on March 14, Kyodo News reported Wednesday, citing the government's execution plan.

According to the plan submitted to a meeting of the ruling parties' anti-piracy project team, the 4,650-ton Sazanami and 4,550-ton Samidare of the 8th Escort Division of the 4th Escort Flotillaare scheduled to leave their base in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, and arrived at the Gulf of Aden in two to three weeks.

Under the maritime policing provision, the MSDF will protect only Japan-related vessels, including Japanese-registered ships and foreign vessels with Japanese nationals or shipments aboard.

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