USCG WANTS TO LEARN NEW MARITIME S.A.R. TECHNIQUES

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Despite having 218 years of
maritime
experience, the US Coast Guard (USGC) wants to learn new search and rescue
(SAR)techniques as well as developing law enforcement.

Second-in-command of the USCG Cutter Boutwell WHEC 719 vessel, Captain
Charles Cashin, said it was important that the USCG understood the way other
countries work in order to develop bilateral relationships.

"It is not that one is better than the other. When we are required to work
in international waters, we must understand how issues in certain regions are
dealt with," he told reporters during a tour of the Cutter (USCG vessel) here
Friday.

The Cutter, with its 180-member crew, has been here since Wednesday by
invitation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for joint
training with the agency.

Cashin said the USCG was impressed with MMEA's accomplishments in its four
years of establishment.

The Cutter will leave for Singapore tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA