Japan Hands Over a High-performance V-hull Boat to Palau Customs Authority

On August 25, 2022, Japan’s V-hull boat procured under Japan’s grant aid “Economic and Social Development Programme” was handed over to the Palau customs authority at Malakal, Koror State. The handover ceremony was attended by Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau Senior, Ambassador of Japan KARASAWA Akira, Minister of State Gustav Aitaro, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetchul, Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil, Director of Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the Ministry of Finance John Tarkong, Australian Maritime Surveillance Advisor Neil Krauklis and many distinguished guests.
 
The V-hull boat is worth 750,000 USD and will be used by the customs authority to investigate, track, and detect illegal activities mainly at Malakal Port in cooperation with the maritime law enforcement authority. The boat was produced by a world-renowned Japanese boat manufacturer Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. The high-spec boat with three 300 horsepower engines can run over 50 knots/h and make sharp turns. Palau is one of the three countries in the world that has this V-hull boat. The boat will improve the capacity of the border protection authority to actively monitor Palau’s water and contribute to the “promotion and establishment of the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and free trade”, which is one of the pillars of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific as the common initiative promoted by both Japan and Palau.
 
At the handover ceremony, Vice President Sengebau Senior said, “This is a very timely and wonderful gift from Japan because President Whipps declared 2022 Year of Ensuring Security and Safety of the people and Republic of Palau. We thank the people and the government of Japan for your generous and unending support and efforts to ensure the safety of our Pacific regions.” Ambassador Karasawa said, “Palau is an island nation surrounded by a vast ocean. It is essential to improve the capacity of the law enforcement authority to protect its border. I hope the Japanese high-spec boat will become a symbol of the Japan-Palau friendship for a long time.”