(VOVworld) – 40 naval ships, a variety of helicopters, and 6,000 troops from 18 countries are participating in the Naval Exercise Komodo 2014 to practice humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. The exercise, themed “ASEAN Cooperation Navy for Stability”, will involve 3 stages - at the port, on the sea, and civilian missions – at 7 spots on the islands of Batam, Natuna, and Anambas, Indonesia, which borders the East Sea.

Vietnamese troops practising for the exercise. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam sent to the drill its engineers, army medical corps, and hospital ship HQ-561 equipped with modern facilities to perform surgeries, provide first aid and resuscitation, and diagnose and treat dento-maxillofacial conditions. 

Hospital ship HQ-561 (Photo: qdnd.vn)

  
This is the first time the Vietnam Navy has joined a multilateral exercise.

Komodo 2014 will end Thursday.