(VOVworld) - The Marine Police Department has been renamed the High Command of Marine Police under a decree issued by the Prime Minister which will come into effect from October 12^th this year. The force received a First-class Military Exploit Order at their 15^th founding anniversary ceremony which was held in Hanoi on Wednesday. The force has overcome challenges in the past 15 years to obtain outstanding achievements, such as improving combat readiness and upgrading facilities to safeguard Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It has dispatched hundreds of ships to protect Vietnamese ships operating at sea.

Vietnam's marine police force receives modern patrol vessels. (Photo: VOV)

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of National Defense Nguyen Thanh Cung said that defending Vietnam’s sovereignty and the marine environment in the new era required the police to be fully capable and heighten their awareness of the current situation and Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea dispute settlement.