Coast Guard's voyage to Palau and Proana Island write a new page in history

Ship Chiayi (bottom) and Ship Penghu (top) performed a joint Taiwan-Botanic patrol and arrived at Proana Island, jointly setting a record for the southernmost cruise by a coast guard. (Provided by Coast Guard)

The Coast Guard's Chiayi and Penghu ships arrived in Palau for their 115th annual voyage training and maritime patrol diplomacy mission. Starting on the 9th, they headed to the exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles southwest of Palau's Koro State for a two-day Taiwanese mission. The joint patrol on the Silk Sea reached Proana Island, the southernmost point of the mission, breaking through the 5th parallel of north latitude and reaching 4 degrees 38 minutes north latitude and 131 degrees 58 minutes east longitude, breaking the record for the southernmost cruise by a coast guard.

The Chiayi and Penghu frigates successfully docked at Palau's Maraka Port on the 6th. On the 8th, Palau President Hui Shuren and his wife boarded the Chiayi for the National Day reception. After a joint flag-raising ceremony was held on the flight deck of the Chiayi on the 9th, the two ships set sail for a joint patrol mission. Two senior officials from Palau's Ministry of Maritime Safety and Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Lt. Jim Kloulechad and Sgt. Gerald Ringang boarded the Penghu ship to jointly carry out the patrol mission of Palau's exclusive economic zone.

What is special is that at 2:00 pm on the 10th, the mission arrived at the southernmost point of the mission, Pulo Anna, 217 miles away from Palau Colo State and 1,220 miles away from Eluanbi, Taiwan. It broke through the 5th parallel of north latitude and reached 4°38' north latitude and 131°58' east longitude, breaking the record for the southernmost coast patrol cruise. "Chiayi" and "Penghu" jointly made history.

Lt. Jim Kloulechad said when passing by Puluoana Island that he was grateful to the Taiwan Coast Guard for participating in the joint patrol of Palau waters. The bilateral friendship is very important to us. He specially introduced Pulo and said that there are only five people living on the island, and it is a good thing to come to confirm that they are safe and healthy.

The Fleet Branch Office stated that since the signing of the "Coast Patrol Cooperation Agreement" in 2019, Taiwan and Palau have continued to deepen cooperation through joint patrols, maritime disaster search and rescue drills and personnel exchanges.

Coast Guard officers conduct joint patrols between Taiwan and Silk Road, creating cruise history together. (Provided by Coast Guard)

Palau Coast Patrol Officers Lt. Jim Kloulechad (right) and Sgt. Gerald Ringang (left) participated in the Taiwan-Palau joint patrol mission. (Provided by Coast Guard)