Tokyo  - Japan Friday signalled its plans to participate in the international counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, on the Horn of Africa.

Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered two destroyers to the waters off Somalia, Japan's news agency Kyodo reported.

Each ship is equipped with two helicopters and two speed boats.

The move marks the first time that Japan is sending self defence vessels to participate in such an operation in foreign waters. The destroyers are to be deployed into the Gulf in early April.

Earlier Thursday, European Union defence officials said they had no plans to boost its Somali counter-piracy mission off the Somali coast.

The EU mission currently uses five frigates provided by Britain, France, Germany, Greece and Spain. Their chief task is to escort vessels from the World Food Programme through the waters off Somalia.

NATO, which deployed an anti-piracy mission in the Somalian waters from October to December before handing it over to the EU, agreed Wednesday to again send seven vessels to the area. (dpa)