Japan Coast Guard takes delivery of new patrol vessel from MHI

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems, a subsidiary of Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has delivered the 3,500-ton patrol vessel Amami to the Japan Coast Guard.

The delivery ceremony took place on March 24, 2025, at the company’s headquarters in Tamano. This vessel is the third 3,500-ton patrol ship built at the Tamano Main Works, following the ships Miyako and Osumi, which are of the same class. They have already been delivered to the Japan Coast Guard.

According to MHI, the ship, which has a length of 120 meters and width of 14 meters, comes equipped with a helicopter landing deck on the aft training deck.

After commissioning, it will be assigned to the Amami Coast Guard Office under the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters.

Its duties will include tasks such as territorial waters security, maritime rescue operations, maintaining public order, and protecting the marine environment.

To remind, in February this year, MHI launched the fourth Hibiki-class auxiliary ocean surveillance ship built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ships have a length of 67 meters and a width of 29.9 meters. With a full load displacement of 3,861 tons, the ship can reach a speed of 11 knots. They also feature a small-waterplane-area twin hull (SWATH) design.

The vessel is scheduled to be handed over to Japan’s Ministry of Defense this year.