FSM helps patrol RMI waters

The crew of the FSS Micronesia patrol vessel with RMI Sea Patrol and MIMRA officials during a brief visit to Majuro while on patrol in RMI waters last month. Photo: Hilary Hosia.
The crew of the FSS Micronesia patrol vessel with RMI Sea Patrol and MIMRA officials during a brief visit to Majuro while on patrol in RMI waters last month. Photo: Hilary Hosia.

North Pacific maritime surveillance cooperation between the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands brought FSM’s FSS Micronesia to patrol RMI waters during October.

The three-week trip around the Marshall Islands, that included a short stop in Majuro, resulted in boarding 15 fishing vessels to ensure compliance with RMI laws. Sea Patrol officials said they found no major violations while boarding fishing vessels.

The joint operation, which involved one Sea Patrol and one MIMRA officer on board the FSS Micronesia patrol vessel, was timed to happen while the RMI’s Lomor patrol vessel is in Australia for dry-dock work.

Sea Patrol said the mission, called “Operation Island Strong,” was a good example of international and inter-departmental coordination by three nations — RMI, FSM and Australia.