Japanese naval vessels escorted a total of 150 commercial ships in the waters of the Gulf of Aden off Somalia between July 28 and September 30 to protect them against pirate attacks under a law that took effect in late July, the Japanese government said.
Only one of the ships is Japanese-registered; 57 are operated by Japanese shipping firms, four by U.S. firms and two by Canadian firms, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Japanese Self-Defense Forces escorted 79 oil tankers, 44 general cargo ships, 11 specific cargo vessels, six automobile carriers, six container ships, three liquefied petroleum gas carriers and one liquefied natural gas carrier.
The Anti-Piracy Law, which was enacted in Japan's parliament in June and took effect on July 24, allows the SDF to escort foreign commercial ships and fire at pirate boats if they ignore warning signals and approach merchant ships.
The SDF had previously been allowed to escort only Japan-related ships, such as Japanese-registered and Japanese-operated vessels, and its use of weapons had been limited to legitimate self-defense.
Only one of the ships is Japanese-registered; 57 are operated by Japanese shipping firms, four by U.S. firms and two by Canadian firms, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Japanese Self-Defense Forces escorted 79 oil tankers, 44 general cargo ships, 11 specific cargo vessels, six automobile carriers, six container ships, three liquefied petroleum gas carriers and one liquefied natural gas carrier.
The Anti-Piracy Law, which was enacted in Japan's parliament in June and took effect on July 24, allows the SDF to escort foreign commercial ships and fire at pirate boats if they ignore warning signals and approach merchant ships.
The SDF had previously been allowed to escort only Japan-related ships, such as Japanese-registered and Japanese-operated vessels, and its use of weapons had been limited to legitimate self-defense.