Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani on Wednesday ordered the dispatch of about 130 Maritime Self-Defense Force members to Hawaii to assist the U.S. Navy in salvaging the Japanese fisheries training ship Ehime Maru.
The agency said the dispatch is in response to a request from Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato and the head of the Japan Coast Guard.
The MSDF mission, including 30 divers, will depart Friday for Oahu Island from the MSDF's Kure base in Hiroshima Prefecture aboard the submarine-rescue ship Chihaya, agency officials said.