According to information published by Chinamil on October 25, 2021, the members of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard have recently conducted their second joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf within the year.
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China Coast Guard vessel 4204 in Beibu Gulf (Picture source: Min.news)
It is their 22nd joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf since 2006. Under the frame of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the China Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard Command, the two coast guards will continue the good momentum of cooperation, strengthen maritime law enforcement exchanges and cooperation, and jointly maintain the security and stability of the Beibu Gulf.
The Vietnamese Coast Guards ships 8004 and 8003 are based on Damen Offshore Patrol Vessels 2400 that have a length of 90.5 m and a beam of 14 m. They can carry up a crew of 70 sailors and have a top speed of 21 knots.
The Damen OPV 2400 is a proven design based on commercial technology. Currently, four are built or under construction. The vessel is suited for extensive weapons suites, including the main gun of up to 76 mm and secondary and smaller guns are available. It also has the capacity for two additional mission modules such as ASW (side-scan sonar), MCM, UAV/USV, pollution control, hospital facilities, diving support, as well as energy and water-making facilities amongst others.
