The Japan Coast Guard has received the seventh Miyako-class large patrol vessel, JCG Hiroshima (PL-207), from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at its Tamano facility in Okayama Prefecture. The handover was attended by Coast Guard Deputy Director General Wataru Sasaki and shipyard representatives. The vessel will operate from the Hiroshima Coast Guard Office under the 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, supporting territorial defence, public safety, rescue operations and maritime resource protection. Japan began the Miyako-class program in 2016, with 11 vessels planned. The program was launched amid increasing Chinese activity around the disputed Senkaku Islands, which Japan administers but China and Taiwan also claim. PL-207 is the sixth Miyako-class ship constructed by Mitsubishi. The vessel measures 117 metres in length and 15 metres across the beam, with accommodation for around 40–50 personnel and one maritime helicopter. Four Yanmar 8EY33W diesel engines, each rated at 6,000 horsepower, give it a speed exceeding 25 knots. Its operational reach is expected to surpass the 20,000-nautical-mile range associated with the Shikishima class. The ship is equipped with two 40mm naval guns, remote water cannons and an intelligence-collection suite.
