Vietnam Coast Guard

Vietnam Coast Guard (Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam)
Seal of the Vietnam Coast Guard
Active	28 August 1998 – present
Country	Vietnam
Allegiance	Communist Party of Vietnam[1]
Type	Coastal defence force
Role	Vietnam maritime law enforcement, patrol, border control, search and rescue, coastal defence
Part of	Vietnam People's Army
Headquarters	Hanoi, Vietnam
Colours	Blue, White, Orange
Anniversaries	28 August
Fleet	49 Patrol boat 3 offshore patrol vessel 6 Transport vessels 5 Salvage tug 4 search and rescue ship
Engagements	MT Zafirah hijacking MT Orkim Harmony hijacking
Decorations
Website	canhsatbien.vn
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Trần Đại Quang
Commander	Lieutenant General Nguyễn Quang Đạm
Political Commissar	Lieutenant General Hoàng Văn Đồng
Chief of Staff	Major General Phạm Kim Hậu
Insignia
Racing Stripe
Emblem
Awards
Aircraft flown
Patrol	3 x CASA C-212 Aviocar

Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG; Vietnamese: Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam) is the coast guard of Vietnam. It is a branch of the Vietnam People's Army, and falls under the management of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence. Since its creation in the late 1990s, the Vietnam Coast Guard plays an important role in maintaining sea security and protection of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundary. It has dispatched forces in waters in overlapping areas between Vietnam and foreign countries, providing protection and assistance to local fishermen when necessary. In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard perform search and rescue duties, along with their duties of combating and preventing smuggling, piracy, and trade fraud in Vietnamese waters.

Origins

The Vietnam Coast Guard was first set up through President Tran Duc Luong's order No 3-L/CTN (7 April 1998), announcing the Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard, which had been accepted by The Tenth National Assembly of Vietnam on 28 March 1998.^[2]

Previously, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam did not have a dedicated Coast Guard; the Navy had been used for offshore patrol and related military activity, along with the Border Patrol Directorate (Bộ Tư Lệnh Biên Phòng), which had checkpoints in estuarine and littoral areas. These bodies were equipped with small boats for short pursuit and related equipment intended for short-term security applications. All river patrol responsibility belongs to the Fluvial Police (Cục Cảnh sát giao thông đường thủy - Bureau code:C25), supervised by provincial and/or local police office (Ministry of Public Safety - Bộ Công An), and sometimes to the Vietnam Customs (Hải Quan), depending on the particular geographical responsibility (fluvial or fresh water only).

The Vietnam Coast Guard became independent from the Vietnam People's Navy on 1 March 2008. It has in-scope intelligence based on international exchange and co-operation with its ASEAN counterparts in smuggling and on-sea drug interdiction operations. As an organisation established to fight against illegal trafficking, it was keen to start with a fresh image, equipped with adequate technology and hardware, to deploy efficiently for its various specific missions. The current organisational pattern will serve as a role model for future extended projects.

Goals

• Develop and maintain operational capability to ensure national maritime sovereignty.
• Be recognised by the nation as the guardian of maritime security.
• Become the foremost maritime security agency in South East Asia.
• Develop and improve the ability to respond to maritime search and rescue requirements throughout the area of responsibility.
• Develop and improve the ability to preserve and protect the maritime environment.
• Continually improve the organisation and operation of the agency.

Mission

In the internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, Vietnam Coast Guard have mission to patrol and control in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and international treaties concerned that, Vietnam is a contracting member (such as The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)) to protect the sovereignty, jurisdiction, protection of natural resources, prevention of environmental pollution; detect, prevent and combating acts of smuggling, piracy, armed robbery against ships, illegal transport and trafficking, transporting illegal narcotics, precursors.

Vietnam Coast Guard is responsible in co-operating with functional agencies to do the mission. If any incident happens at sea, Vietnam Coast Guard have responsibility to inform to the functional agencies and co-ordinate with foreign countries to settle the issue. Lt. General Phạm Đức Lĩnh said in The 7th Heads of Asia Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM - 7) on July 2011: "Vietnam Coast Guard used in overlapping sea areas between Vietnam and foreign countries. Local fishermen will be better protected and assisted if necessary, and remind local fishermen not to cross into the waters of foreign countries."^[3] In October 2013 the VMP were transferred from the navy to the coast guard, apparently so as to qualify for Japanese equipment aid.^[4]

The Vietnam Coast Guard is responsible for protecting the security of Vietnam's coast line and deals with problems like:

• Drug smuggling
• Human trafficking
• Counter Terrorism
• Industrial radioactive and toxic waste dumping
• Marine Environmental Protection
• Surveillance of Illegal Operations by Foreign Fishing Vessels
• Vietnam maritime law enforcement
• Marine assistance
• International Affairs
• Search and rescue (SAR)
• National defence - alongside the Vietnam People's Navy^[2]

In addition to its role, the Vietnam Coast Guard has moved their headquarters from Hai Phong to Hanoi in February 2008, due to current needs to address these tasks. Current headquarters are located at 94 Le Loi Street, Nguyen Trai ward, Ha Dong district, Ha Noi. Their training base and logistic support facilities remain in Hai Phong.

Establishment

Organisational system

1. Coast Guard Command^[5]

2. Units in Coast Guard Department:

• Regional Coast Guard: similar with Regional Navy. In the structure of Regional Navy have fleets, flotillas and Marine police teams;
• Coast Guard fleets;
• No.1 and No.2 Reconnaissance base;
• No.1,2,3, and 4 Anti-drugs, Anti-crime Task base;
• Center of Coast Guard Information;
• Center of Coast Guard Training.

Regional Coast Guard

Vietnam Coast Guard regions

• 1st Regional Coast Guard: managed from Ka Long River, Quang Ninh Province to Con Co island, Quang Tri Province. Based in Hai Phong;
• 2nd Regional Coast Guard: managed from Con Co island, Quang Tri to Xanh islet, Binh Dinh Province and South China Sea. Based in Quang Nam Province;
• 3rd Regional Coast Guard: managed from Xanh islet, Binh Dinh to Dinh An harbour, Tra Vinh Province and South China Sea. Based in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province;
• 4th Regional Coast Guard: managed from Dinh An harbour, Tra Vinh to Ha Tien, Kien Giang Province and the Gulf of Thailand. Based in Ca Mau.

International co-operation

CASA C-212 series 400 in Vietnam Coast Guard

Vietnam Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard have signed an agreement to set up hotline in principle. In the near future, both will draft detailed regulations on co-ordination, so that when a situation at sea will settle in time.^[6]

On 14 July 2012, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Kōichirō Genba and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting in Hanoi. Japan Coast Guard is willing to help Vietnam bolster its coastal patrol capabilities, include set up such an institution and train its personnel.^[7]

Vietnam Coast Guard would be equipped with modern facilities to carry out effectively their tasks to maintain security, order and safety in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with the close co-operation with regional coast guards of regional countries.^[8]

That is the reason why Vietnam Coast Guard need to strengthen confidence building, mutual understanding between members, promote practical co-operation and efficiency among countries in Southeast Asia and in the world. To solve issues such as piracy, smuggling, trade fraud and transportation of persons, illegal drugs, disaster search and rescue, disaster,... Vietnam Coast Guard's in collaboration with some countries for networking exercises of information processing, situation, to forwards to exercise with soldiers on sea in some situations, such as anti-piracy, search and rescue, environmental response to incidents,...

Development

Main type of patrol vessels in Vietnam Coast Guard

To create a breakthrough development for Vietnam Coast Guard, a contract signed between Vietnam and United States that United States Coast Guard helped train Vietnam Coast Guard from 2009. The United States Coast Guard kicked off its partnership program with the Vietnam Coast Guard under the Export Control and Related Border Security program by conducting two sessions of the Maritime Law Enforcement Boarding Officer course in Hai Phong and Phu Quoc, 12–23 October 2009. This was the first United States Coast Guard engagement with the Vietnam Coast Guard under their new partnership program. Its positive results bode well for future co-operation between the two forces. The training courses received a great deal of attention from the Vietnam Coast Guard leadership, as well as the Ministry of Defence (Vietnam), with senior representatives from MOD both attending the opening and closing ceremonies, and hosting farewell lunches and dinners. The Vietnam Coast Guard leadership's recommendations for future training will not only be very useful for planning purposes, but represent clear signals that they are eager for further co-operation. Continuing the partnership plan, the United States Coast Guard has invited one VMP officer to attend the 15-week International Maritime Officer Course starting in March 2010 at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia.^[9]

Besides vessels are equipped with self-building, Vietnam Coast Guard also cooperated with Damen Group to build large vessels with Netherlands's license, being built in Vietnam by Song Thu company, 189 company,... Vessels have completed such as one Offshore patrol vessel 9014, one hydrographic survey vessel 6613, four Salvage tugs 6412,...^[10]

Later on in 2008, Vietnam Coast Guard received three ocean sentry turboprop aeroplanes CASA C-212 Aviocar - Series 400 equipped with MSS 6000 systems from the Swedish Space Corporation.^[11]

Vietnamese Government has planned to invest in upgrading facilities for the force including modern ships which can operate in bad weather and stay long at sea. Furthermore, the force is also equipped with helicopters to enhance its operations at the border of continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam to protect the territorial waters and fishermen as well. In particular, on Vietnamese sea, adjacent waters boundary waters disputes over sovereignty, there must be always the presence of Vietnam Coast Guard.^[6][8]

Equipment

A vessel of Vietnam Coast Guard

Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels are equipped with specialised functions (almost all Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels are self-produced):

• To coastal patrol and protection, including vessels from 120 to 400 tons, have very high speed, armed with powerful weapons, numbered beginning with 00.., 20 .., 30 .., 40 .., 50 ..;
• To support, search and rescue, including vessels from 1.000 to 2.000 tons, numbered beginning with 600..;
• To offshore patrol, including vessels over 2.500 tons with helicopter on deck, numbered beginning with 800..;
• To Search and rescue, vessels have named beginning SAR or 900...

Almost Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels named CSB (abbreviated by Vietnamese words: Cảnh Sát Biển - Coast Guard).

Ships (87 in service)
Photo	Type	Builder	Role	Quantity	Name
	Shershen class 148 tons	Soviet Union	Patrol	4	CSB-5011, CSB-5012, CSB-5013, CSB-5014
	TT-120 120 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	14	CSB 001,CSB-1011,CSB 1012, CSB 1013, CSB 1014, CSB-3001, CSB-3002, CSB-3003, CSB-3004, CSB-3005, CSB-3006, CSB-3007, CSB-3008, CSB-3009
	TT-200 200 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	14	CSB-2001, CSB-2002, CSB-2003, CSB-2004, CSB-2005, CSB-2006, CSB-2007, CSB-2008, CSB-2009, CSB-2010, CSB-2011, CSB-2012, CSB-2013, CSB-2014
	TT-400 400 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	9	CSB-4031, CSB-4032, CSB-4033, CSB-4034, CSB-4035, CSB-4036, CSB-4037, CSB-4038, CSB-4039
	TT-1500 1500 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	(8 more on order)
	TS-500CV 398 tons	Vietnam	Patrol/Search and rescue	2	CSB-6008, CSB-6009
	Offshore patrol vessel 1200 tons	Vietnam	Patrol/Search and rescue	2	CSB-6006, CSB-6007
	DN 2000 (Damen 9014 class) 2500 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	4 (5 more on order)	CSB-8001, CSB-8002, CSB-8004, CSB-8005
	Hamilton-class cutter 3250 tons	United States	Patrol	1	CSB-8020 (former USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722))
	DN 4000 4000 tons	Vietnam	Patrol	(5 more on order)
	Teshio class (Natsui class) 600 tons	Japan	Patrol/Transport	5	CSB-6001, CSB-6002, CSB-6003, CSB-6004, CSB-6005
	Offshore patrol 1500 tons	South Korea	Patrol	1	CSB-8003
	Patrol boat 280 tons	South Korea	Patrol	2	CSB-2015, CSB-2016
	High-Speed Patrol boat	Vietnam	Patrol	14	CSB-426, CSB-426S, CSB-603, CSB-604, CSB-606, CSB-607, CSB-608, CSB-609, CSB-610, CSB-611, CSB-612, CSB-613, CSB-614, CSB-615
	Metal Shark 45 Defiant	United States	Patrol	6	CSB-701, CSB-702, CSB-703
	Damen Salvage tug 1400 tons	Netherlands  Vietnam	Search and rescue	5	CSB-9001, CSB-9002, CSB-9003, CSB-9004, CSB-9005
	Damen Stan 4100 patrol vessel	Netherlands	Search and rescue	3	SAR-411, SAR-412, SAR-413
	H-222 2900 tons	Vietnam	Replenishment/Transport	1	CSB-7011
Aircraft (3 in service)
Photo	Type	Builder	Role	Quantity	Name
	CASA C-212 Aviocar series 400	Spain	Patrol	3 (3 more on order). One was lost during a crash while searching for a Su-30 fighter.[12]	8981, 8982, 8984

Table of Ranks

The Coast Guard does not use naval or maritime ranks. And unlike the Vietnam People's Navy the Coast Guard does not use sleeve and cuff rank insignia for officers.

	Flag Officers			Field Grade Officers				Company Grade Officers
	Trung tướng	Thiếu tướng	Đại tá	Thượng tá	Trung tá	Thiếu tá	Đại úy	Thượng úy	Trung úy	Thiếu úy
	Lieutenant General	Major General	Senior Colonel	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant	Ensign

	Officer cadet	NCOs			Seamen
	Học viên Sĩ quan	Thượng sĩ	Trung sĩ	Hạ sĩ	Binh nhất	Binh nhì
	Officer Cadet	Sergeant Major	Sergeant	Corporal	Seaman First Class	Seaman

See also

• Vietnam People's Army
• Vietnam People's Navy
• Vietnam People's Public Security
• Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance

References

External links

• Official website (in Vietnamese)