Hellenic Coast Guard
| Hellenic Coast Guard | |
|---|---|
|
Coat of Arms of the Hellenic Coast Guard | |
| Active | 1919 |
| Country |
 Greece |
| Type | Coast Guard |
| Role | Maritime law enforcement, paramilitary navy, search and rescue, sea pollution control |
| Size | 7,000 |
| Patron | St. Nicholas |
| Colors | Cyan, White & Gold |
| Commanders | |
| Commandant | Vice Admiral A. Athanasopoulos |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Λ.Σ.-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ. |
| Identification symbol | Crossed anchors |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Patrol | Cessna 406 Caravan II |
| Transport | Cessna 172 Skyhawk |
The Hellenic Coast Guard (Greek Λιμενικό Σώμα-Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή – Limeniko Soma-Elliniki Aktofylaki – lit. "Port 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. It was founded in 1919 by an Act of Parliament (N. 1753/1919) and the legal framework for its function was reformed in 1927. The current name is specified in Law 3022/2011.
Organization
The Hellenic Coast Guard Force is currently under the authority of the Ministry of Shipping. The Hellenic Coast Guard Force is headed by the Senior Coast Guard Officer who has the rank of Vice Admiral (Antinavarchos).
The basic roles of the Hellenic Coast Guard are law enforcement at sea, search and rescue, marine safety, preventing sea pollution, fisheries patrolling, preventing illegal immigration and drug interdiction.
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). On land the Hellenic Coast Guard is equipped with cars and motorcycles.
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). 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.[1]
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:
- Law enforcement at sea, ports and coastal areas. Prevention of illegal immigration. Surveillance of the sea, shipping, ports and borders.
- Search and rescue at sea (jointly with the Hellenic Air Force, which is responsible for search and rescue by air).
- 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.[2]
- Port operations (excluding port pilots service).
- Representation of Greece in international organizations and the European Commission in matters related to these roles.
Personnel
Most officers in recent years are graduates from higher education establishments, including the Merchant Marine Academies. After recruitment new officers study for one year at the Hellenic Naval Academy. Petty officers are trained for nine months at Palaskas Naval Training Centre and lower rank enlisted men are trained at Scholi Limenofylakon at Piraeus. With law Law 4029 of 2011, a volunteer Auxiliary Coast Guard was established.[3]
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.[4]
| Officer Grade Structure of the Hellenic Coast Guard | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||
| (no equivalent) | Αντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos (Vice Admiral) |
Υποναύαρχος Yponavarchos (Rear Admiral) |
Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploiarchos (Commodore) |
Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos (Captain) |
Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos (Commander) |
Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis (Lt. Commander) |
Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos (Lieutenant) |
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos (Lieutenant junior grade) |
Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos (Ensign) | |
| (no equivalent) |  |
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| NCO Rank Structure of the Hellenic Coast Guard | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 |
| Ανθυπασπιστής Anthipaspistis (Fleet Chief Petty Officer) |
Αρχικελευστής Archikelefstis (Chief Petty Officer) |
Επικελευστής Epikelefstis (Petty Officer) |
Κελευστής Kelefstis (Leading seaman) |
Λιμενοφύλακας Limenofylakas (Seaman) |
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Fleet
The following list of Hellenic CG vessels is incomplete, due to limited availability of published data. It is based mainly on the official HCG web site,[5] the Hellenic Defence Review 2006-2007,[6] Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011-2012[7] and on some original research.
| Model | Type | Length (m) | Displacement (tonnes) | Origin | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sa'ar 4 | Open Sea Patrol | 58 | 450 |  Israel / Greece | 3[7] | Vessels ΛΣ-060, ΛΣ-070 and ΛΣ-080 are demilitarized FACMs fitted with 30mm gun but without missiles. Speed of 34.5 knots. |
| Damen Stan patrol vessel 5509 | Open Sea Patrol | 58 |  The Netherlands | 0 (+1) | One (1) ordered in July 2014 from B.V.Scheepswerf Damen Gorinchem. | |
| Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 | Open Sea Patrol | 47.3 | 255 |  United Kingdom | 1 | Vessel ΛΣ-050, currently under upgrades and speed of 40 knots. |
| Class Faiakas (Φαίακας) | Patrol | 24.6 |  Croatia | 2 (+4) | Vessels ΛΣ-617 and ΛΣ-618 (type POB-24G) with four (4) vessels remaining on order,[8] to be delivered by 2016. Fitted with 50mm gun and having speed of 32 knots. | |
| Class Dilos (Δήλος) | Patrol | 29 | 86 | Greece | 6 | Under consideration for decommissioning; design by Abeking & Rasmussen. Vessels ΛΣ-010, ΛΣ-015, ΛΣ-020, ΛΣ-025, ΛΣ-030 and ΛΣ-040 having speed of 27 knots. |
| CB-90HCG | Coastal Patrol | 15.9 | 20 |  Sweden | 3[7] | Vessels ΛΣ-134, ΛΣ-135 and ΛΣ-136 with speed 40-45 knots. |
| Javelin-74 | Coastal Patrol | 19.2 | 27 | Greece | 3 | Vessels ΛΣ-192, ΛΣ-193 and ΛΣ-194 having speed of 50+ knots. |
| LCS-57 (Lambro-57) Mk.I | Coastal Patrol | 18.2 | 28 | Greece | 16 | Speed 44 knots. |
| LCS-57 (Lambro-57) Mk.II | Coastal Patrol | 19.2 | 27 | Greece | 19 | Speed 50+ knots. |
| LCS-53 (Lambro-53 Guardian) | Coastal Patrol | 16.8 | 21 | Greece | 11 | Vessels' series ΛΣ-114 and speed of 33 knots. |
| Olympic L65/74 | Coastal Patrol | 23 | Greece | 4 | ΛΣ-102 series | |
| Arun Halmatic | Lifeboat | 16 | 37 | United Kingdom | 1 | Vessel SAR-510 |
| Lambro Halmatic 60 | Lifeboats | 18 | 37 | Greece | 10 | Vessels' series SAR-511 to SAR-520. |
| System 33/Nemesis RIB[9] | RIB Coastal Patrol | 10.35 | Greece | 10 | All vessels are donation by SNF having speed of 50+ knots. | |
| D-45 | Coastal Patrol | 13.9 | 25 | Greece | 4 | |
| D-45M | Coastal Patrol | 13.9 | 25 | Greece | 5 | |
| Olympic L-44 | Patrol | 14 | 25 | Greece | 3 | ΛΣ-153 series |
| MIL-38 | Coastal Patrol | 11.85 | 7 | Greece | 2 | |
| MIL-40 | Coastal Patrol | 13 | 7 | Greece | 2 | ΛΣ-132, ΛΣ-133 |
| Madera MRCD-1250 | RIB Coastal Patrol | 12,5 | The Netherlands | 0 (+2) | Two (2) on order. | |
| Magna 110 Hurricane Mk.I/II | RIB Coastal Patrol | 10,8 | Greece | 2 | ||
| Magna Onda | Coastal Patrol | 11.7 | 5.4 | Greece | 2 | |
| Super Onda | Coastal Patrol | 8.6 | 2.8 | Greece | 2 | |
| Magna 31 | RIB Coastal Patrol | 8.6 | 2.8 | Greece | 3 | One (1) donated at 2014 by Dmitry Rybolovlev |
| Oceanic Interceptor | RIB Coastal Patrol | Greece | ? | |||
| Gibli-1025 | RIB Coastal Patrol | 10,25 | Greece | 12 | ||
| Oceanic 9000 Stealth | RIB Coastal Patrol | 9 | 2 | Greece | 18 | |
| Mostro Top Gun 864/964 | RIB Coastal Patrol | 9.3/9.9 | 1.4/1.6 | Greece | 19 | |
| Boston Whaler | Coastal patrol, Diver support | 9 |  USA | 3 | ΛΣ-798, ... Donated by the USCG in 2004.[10] | |
| Halter Marine HSB | Coastal patrol, Diver support | USA | 1 | ... Donated by the USCG in 2004 | ||
| Wellcraft | Coastal patrol, Diver support | USA | 1 | ... Donated by the USCG in 2004 | ||
| LS-413 (LMPA) | Pollution control | 29 | 240 |  Spain | 3 | by Astilleros Gondan, Spain.[11][12] |
| Pollcat | Pollution control | 18.5 | 85 | 3 | ||
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). Its four AS 332 Super Puma Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters are operated by the Hellenic Air Force 384 Squadron, based at Elefsis Air Base (LGEL), with mixed Air Force and Coast Guard crews.
| Aircraft | ID | Type | Versions | Origin | In service[13] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurocopter Super Puma | SAR helicopter | AS 332C |  France | 4[7] | Operated by the Hellenic Air Force | |
| Aérospatiale Dauphin | HC-31 to HC-36 | Patrol helicopter | AS 365N3 | France | 6[7] | Based at Kotroni Naval Air Station (LGKN) in cooperation with Hellenic Navy |
| Cessna 406 Caravan II | AC-21 to AC-23 | Maritime patrol | F406 | France | 3[7] | Built by Reims |
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk | AC-1, AC-2 | Utility aircraft | 172RG | USA | 2[7] | |
| Socata TB | AC-3, AC-4 | Utility aircraft | TB 20 | France | 2[7] |
HCG facilities
- New headquarters and VTMIS operations centre: 37°56′33″N 23°37′35″E / 37.94250°N 23.62639°E
- Old headquarters and SAR coordination centre: 37°56′23.5″N 23°38′55″E / 37.939861°N 23.64861°E
- Mooring for Open Sea Patrol Vessels (Keratsini): 37°57′25.7″N 23°36′39.7″E / 37.957139°N 23.611028°E
- Coast Guard apron at Tatoi Air Base: 38°06′35.1″N 23°46′55.5″E / 38.109750°N 23.782083°E
- Aspropyrgos Maritime Communications Radio Station SXE: 38°02′12.5″N 23°35′7.5″E / 38.036806°N 23.585417°E
- Piraeus Central Port Authority: 37°56′23″N 23°38′24″E / 37.93972°N 23.64000°E
- Enlisted men training facility (Σχολή Λιμενοφυλάκων): 37°56′10.3″N 23°37′40.4″E / 37.936194°N 23.627889°E
- Piraeus VTMIS AIS receiver 002393200 37°56.369′N 023°38.381′E / 37.939483°N 23.639683°E
- Psyttaleia Island VTMIS AIS receiver 002391100 37°56.620′N 23°35.664′E / 37.943667°N 23.594400°E
- Patras VTS 38°14′46″N 21°43′44″E / 38.24617°N 21.72886°E
- Thessaloniki VTS 40°38′17″N 22°55′31″E / 40.63802°N 22.92522°E
- Corfu Island VTS 39°37′37″N 19°54′20″E / 39.62708°N 19.90554°E
- Igoumenitsa VTS 39°29′17″N 20°15′32″E / 39.48799°N 20.25899°E
- Lavrion VTS 37°42′50″N 24°03′45″E / 37.71394°N 24.06252°E
- Rafina Port 38°01.347′N 24°0.522′E / 38.022450°N 24.008700°E
References
- ↑ Photo of old Hellenic CG flag.
- ↑ "Greece, Coast Radio Stations, Hellenic Coast Guard MRCC and MRSC" (PDF). The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2002. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ↑ Law 4029, Government Gazette A 245, 2011-11-22
- ↑ Grade/rank insignia of the Hellenic CG (Ministry of Merchant Marine)
- ↑ http://www.yen.gr/wide/yen.chtm?prnbr=24177
- ↑ Hellenic Defence Review 2006-2007 (in Greek). Athens, Greece: Line Defence Ltd. 2006. p. 62.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 E. Pagotsis, ed. (May 2011). Ετήσια Ανασκόπηση Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011-2012 (Annual Review Balance of Power 2011-2012. Athens, Greece: Dyros Ltd. p. 77.
- ↑ "Greek coastguard orders six coastal patrol craft". janes.com. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ↑ http://www.elmon.com/products/defence-systems.htm
- ↑ http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/34009.htm
- ↑ "Antipollution vessel ALPHA" (PDF). Astilleros Gondan shipbuilders. 1994.
- ↑ "Astilleros Gondan Alfa". Astilleros Gondan shipbuilders. 2011.
- ↑ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hellenic Coast Guard. |
- Hellenic Coast Guard official website
- International Lifeboat Federation
- "Insignia of HCG Officers and Petty Officers" (JPEG). Ministry of Merchant Marine. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
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