Chinese Maritime Safety Administration Ship Arrives in Honolulu

Chinese Maritime Safety Administration Ship Arrives in Honolulu
September 5th, 2012 ·

http://mauinow.com/2012/09/05/chinese-maritime-safety-administration-ship-arrives-in-honolulu/

The crew of a Chinese Maritime Safety Administration ship, Haixun 31, arrived in Honolulu Harbor to begin a historic first visit to the United States Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Hawaii News Now.

By Sonia Isotov

The crew of a Chinese Maritime Safety Administration ship arrived in Honolulu Harbor to begin a historic first visit to the United States Tuesday.

Representatives from the 14th Coast Guard District will host the crew of the Haixun 31 who will remain in port until September 8.

The arrival was followed by a ceremony hosted by Rear Adm. Charles Ray, commander 14th Coast Guard District, and attended by Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. The Chinese delegation will include Chinese Vice Consul General Sun Dewei from Los Angeles, Chinese Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration Director General Liang Jianwei, Chinese Guangdong Deputy Director General Cao Desheng and Capt. Chen Qingli, commanding officer of Haixun 31.

The Haixun 31 was escorted into Aloha Tower at 3 p.m. by a parade of ships that included the Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island and the Honolulu Fire Department fireboat Moku Ahi.

The Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Safety Administration are scheduled to conduct a joint search and rescue table top exercise and an on water exercise in Honolulu. These exercises will serve as the building blocks towards a cooperative partnership and facilitate discussions of maritime search and rescue and environmental protection measures that are of mutual interest to both agencies.