The Hellenic Coast Guard (Greek: Λιμενικό Σώμα-Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή, romanized: Limeniko Soma-Elliniki Aktofylaki, lit. 'Harbor Corps-Hellenic Coast Guard') is the national coast guard of Greece. Like many other coast guards, it is a paramilitary organization that can support the Hellenic Navy in wartime, but resides under separate civilian control in times of peace. The officers and the enlisted members of the Coast Guard are regarded as military personnel under Military's Penal Code.[2] It was founded in 1919 by an Act of Parliament (Law No. 1753–1919) and the legal framework for its function was reformed in 1927. Its primary mission is the enforcement of Greek, European and International law in the maritime areas.[3]
Historically, it is very closely associated with the Greek shipping industry; many Coast Guard officers retire early to find employment in Greek and international companies owned by Greek ship-owners.[4]
Role and responsibilities
The main activities of the Hellenic Coast Guard are defined in the present legislation and specified within its institutional framework of operation. These activities are the following:[1][3]
Ensuring public order, including general policing and traffic policing.
Safety of navigation (with the exception of lighthouses, racons and buoys, which are constructed, purchased, installed and maintained by the Hellenic Navy Lighthouse Service).
Protection of the marine environment and response to marine pollution incidents.
Provision of emergency maritime radio communication services.[5]
Port operations (excluding port pilots service).
Merchant Ships and Shipping Companies inspection.
Representation of Greece in international organizations and the European Commission in matters related to these roles.
In order to perform these roles, the Coast Guard operate a number of patrol boats of various sizes (6m to 60m) and different types (RIBs, coastal patrol boats, offshore patrol boats, lifeboats and pollution control vessels).[6] On land the Hellenic Coast Guard is equipped with 634 vehicles, including patrol vehicles, cars and motorcycles, buses and mini vans, trucks and tanker.[7] The Coast Guard also operate seven airplanes and six helicopters.[8]
Organization
Flag of the Hellenic Coast Guard flown in front of the Coast Guard offices in Rethymno Harbour.
The Hellenic Coast Guard is under the authority of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy,[9] which is headed by a commandant and assisted by two deputy commandants who all have the rank of vice admiral (Antinavarchos). As of 2022[update], Georgios Alexandrakis serves as Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard..[10]
The Hellenic Coast Guard operates the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Piraeus and the Emergency Radio Communications Station SXE at Aspropyrgos (38°02′12.5″N 23°35′7.5″E / 38.036806°N 23.585417°E / 38.036806; 23.585417). The Hellenic Coast Guard also operates the Vessel Traffic Service (V.T.M.I.S.) at busy sea lanes, currently around the ports of Piraeus, Elefsis, Lavrion and Rafina.
Between May 21, 1964, and 1980 the Hellenic Coast Guard had its own special flag, which was derived from the Greek Ensign with the addition of the crossed anchors badge on the center of the white cross.
Personnel
Most officers in recent years are graduates from higher education establishments, including the Merchant Marine Academies. After recruitment new officers study for four years at the Hellenic Naval Academy. Petty officers are trained for two years at Palaskas Naval Training Centre and lower rank enlisted men are trained at Scholi Limenofylakon (Greek: Σχολή Λιμενoφυλάκων, romanized: Sxoli Limenofilakon) at Piraeus, for a duration of two years. With law Law 4029 of 2011, a volunteer Auxiliary Coast Guard was established.[11] The Officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard have the same ranks as the Officers of the Hellenic Navy and similar insignia, replacing the curl with two crossed anchors. The Petty Officers (Ratings) also use rank insignia similar to those of the Hellenic Navy, replacing the speciality symbol with the crossed anchors badge.[12]
Ranks and insignia
Commissioned officers
NCOs and enlisted
Fleet
As of 2015, the structure of the Hellenic Coast Guard predicts a fleet consisting of five Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) sized 45–60 metres in length and of 300-450 tons displacement, six to twelve Patrol boats with lengths of 25–30 meters and more than fifty Coastal Patrol Vessels of various types with lengths of 14–20 meters.[13][14] In addition the Hellenic Coast Guard operates a large number of fast Rigid-Inflatable Boat (RIB)/Special Forces vessels as well as eleven Lifeboats. Currently the Hellenic Coast Guard fleet in its totality consists of approximately 240-250 vessels of all types.[15][16] In August 2023 the Hellenic Coast Guard ordered 31 Munin S1200 patrol boats and three Metis high-speed RHIBs.[17] 5 Finnish-built fast patrol boats "Watercat 2000 Patrol" were ordered in early November 2023.[18]
Aircraft fleet
The Hellenic Coast Guard operates a small fleet of fixed wing aircraft based at Tatoi (Dekelia) Air Base, (LGTT, 38°06′35.1″N 23°46′55.5″E / 38.109750°N 23.782083°E / 38.109750; 23.782083).
HCG facilities
New headquarters and VTMIS operations centre (Pireaus): 37°56′33″N 23°37′35″E / 37.94250°N 23.62639°E / 37.94250; 23.62639
Old headquarters and SAR coordination centre (Pireaus): 37°56′23.5″N 23°38′55″E / 37.939861°N 23.64861°E / 37.939861; 23.64861
Mooring for Open Sea Patrol Vessels (Keratsini): 37°57′25.7″N 23°36′39.7″E / 37.957139°N 23.611028°E / 37.957139; 23.611028
Coast Guard apron at Tatoi Air Base: 38°06′35.1″N 23°46′55.5″E / 38.109750°N 23.782083°E / 38.109750; 23.782083
Aspropyrgos Maritime Communications Radio Station SXE: 38°02′12.5″N 23°35′7.5″E / 38.036806°N 23.585417°E / 38.036806; 23.585417
Piraeus Central Port Authority: 37°56′23″N 23°38′24″E / 37.93972°N 23.64000°E / 37.93972; 23.64000
Enlisted men training facility (Σχολή Λιμενοφυλάκων): 37°56′10.3″N 23°37′40.4″E / 37.936194°N 23.627889°E / 37.936194; 23.627889
Rafina Port 38°01.347′N 24°0.522′E / 38.022450°N 24.008700°E / 38.022450; 24.008700
References
^ a bΣύσταση Αρχηγείου Λιμενικού Σώματος - Ελληνικής Ακτοφυλακής και άλλες διατάξεις [Establishment of the Coast Guard Headquarters - Hellenic Coast Guard and other provisions] (Law 3922) (in Greek). 2011.
^Ανασυγκρότηση του Υπουργείου Ναυτιλίας και Αιγαίου και άλλες διατάξεις [Reorganization of the Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean and other provisions] (Law 4150, 4) (in Greek). 2013. Translated English Version
^ a b"Roles and Responsibilities". Hellenic Coast Guard. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^Theotokas, Giannes & Harlaftis, Gelina (2007). Greek ship-owners and shipping businesses: organization, strategy and administration (in Greek). pp. 399–401.
^"Greece, Coast Radio Stations, Hellenic Coast Guard MRCC and MRSC" (PDF). The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
^"Vessels". Hellenic Coast Guard. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^"Vehicles". Hellenic Coast Guard. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^ a b c d e"Aircraft". Hellenic Coast Guard. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^"102 Χρόνια από την Ίδρυση του Λιμενικού Σώματος (1919-2021)" [102 Years since the Foundation of the Coast Guard (1919-2021)]. Hellenic Coast Guard (in Greek). 14 October 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^"The Leadership of HCG". Hellenic Coast Guard. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^θελοντισμός στο Λιμενικό Σώμα − Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή και στο Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα και άλλες διατάξεις [Volunteering in the Coast Guard - Hellenic Coast Guard and the Fire Brigade and other provisions] (Law 4029) (in Greek). 2011.
^ a b c"Grade/rank insignia of the Hellenic CG (Ministry of Merchant Marine)". Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
^"Ο Στόλος του Λιμενικού Σώματος /Ελληνικής Ακτοφυλακής το 2015" [The Fleet of the Hellenic Coast Guard in 2015] (in Greek). 21 December 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
^"Επιχειρησιακά Μέσα" [Operational Units]. Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Islands & Fisheries (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2 December 2010.
^"The Hellenic Coast Guard's Mission to Secure the Seas from Illicit Trade". PMI IMPACT. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
^D-Mitch (2 April 2020). "Infographics of Coast Guard Vessels #7: The new boats of the Hellenic Coast Guard 2020-2024". Naval Analyses.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
^"Viking wins 34-vessel order for Greek coastguard". Maritime Journal. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
^"Πέντε ταχύπλοα για την φύλαξη των θαλάσσιων συνόρων" [Five speedboats for guarding the maritime borders]. Emprosnet.gr (in Greek). 2 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
^ a b c d e fPagotsis, E., ed. (May 2011). Ετήσια Ανασκόπηση Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011-2012 [Annual Review Balance of Power 2011-2012]. Athens, Greece: Dyros Ltd. p. 77.
^"Τελετή Απόδοσης σε Ενέργεια του Πλοίου Ανοιχτής Θαλάσσης Λιμενικού Σώματος (ΠΑΘ/ΛΣ) 050" [Commissioning Ceremony of the Coast Guard Offshore Vessel (PATH/LS) 050]. Laskaridou.gr (in Greek). 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
^"Greek coastguard orders six coastal patrol craft". Janes.com. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
^"New FB 56' SF model for the Hellenic Coast Guard". FB Design. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^Archus, Dorian (2 February 2020). "FB Design to build 15 patrol boats for Hellenic Coast Guard". Naval News. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^"Shipowners donate 10 high-speed boats Rafnar to Greek Coast Guard". Keep Talking Greece. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^"Project Nemesis". Elmon Defence Systems. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
^"U.S. Donates Patrol Boats to Hellenic Coast Guard for 2004 Olympics". U.S. Department of State. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
