Japan Coast Guard 2.87

The Japan Coast Guard, formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection of the coastline of Japan. It was founded in 1948.OverviewThe duty of the JCG is to ensure security and safety at sea.This provided through the following services: Maritime patrol – patrols Japan's territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of (12–200 nautical miles out from the shore which is approximately 4,470,000 km2). Countermeasures against Smuggling and Illegal Immigration Countermeasures against Piracy (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia-ReCAAP) Counter Terrorism Security against Maritime Conflict – includes the Special Guard Team Surveillance of Illegal Operations by Foreign Fishing Vessels Countermeasures against Suspicious Vessels and/or Spy Ships Dealing with Unlawful Acts by Foreign Oceanographic Research Vessels Patrolling and Guarding the Waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, Takeshima, and the Northern Territories Hydrographic and oceanographic surveying Maritime traffic managementOrganizationNational HeadquartersThe Japan Coast Guard is led by a Commandant and two Vice Commandants. Lower ranking officers include the director general, directors and inspector generals.