HMS Richmond conducts PASSEX exercise with Vietnam frigate
VOV.VN - Royal Navy ship HMS Richmond of the United Kingdom conducted a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Dinh Tien Hoang frigate of the Vietnam People’s Army on October 4, marking the end of the British navy ship’ four-day visit at Cam Ranh port.
A PASSEX is an exercise conducted between two or more navies which consists of navigational and communication drills as ships coordinate maneuvers alongside and around each other. Some of the drills include flashing light, semaphore and flag hoisting. The exercise helps increase the operational readiness and interoperability amongst participating ships.
HMS Richmond, one of HMS Queen Elizabeth's escort ships in the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), docked at Cam Ranh port in Khanh Hoa province on October 1 for a visit to Vietnam.
The visit came at a time when both the UK and Vietnam are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their defense relations, and just two months after the first visit to Vietnam by the UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.
Captain Hugh Botterill, Commanding Officer of the HMS Richmond, said, the visit “demonstrates the UK's commitment to a persistent and reliable presence in the Indo-Pacific region, including crucial regional partners like Vietnam with we have numerous shared interests”.
The UK and Vietnam are scheduled to hold the fourth annual bilateral defense policy dialogue later this year.
