Hellenic Coast Guard

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 most 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 Marine and Aegean Sea. The Hellenic Coast Guard Force is headed by the Senior Coast Guard Officer who has the rank of Vice Admiral.

The basic roles of the Hellenic Coast Guard are law enforcement in sea, search and rescue, marine safety, pollution prevention in sea, fishery patrolling, prevention of the illegal immigration, 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 (RIB's, 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 (38.03681°N, 23.58542°W). 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.

Role and responsibilities
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 shipping, ports, sea space and borders.
 * Search and Rescue at Sea (jointly with the Hellenic Air Force, 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, response to marine pollution incidents
 * Provision of emergency maritime radio communication services


 * 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.

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.

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, the Hellenic Defence Review 2006-2007, Ισορροπία Δυνάμεων 2011-2012 and on some original research.

Aircraft inventory
The Hellenic Coast Guard operates a small fleet of fixed wing aircraft based at Tatoi (Dekelia) Air Base, (LGTT, 38.10975°N, 23.78208°W). 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.

HCG facilities

 * 1) New headquarters and VTMIS operations centre: 37.9425°N, 23.62639°W
 * 2) Old headquarters and SAR coordination centre: 37.93986°N, 23.64861°W
 * 3) Mooring for Open Sea Patrol Vessels (Keratsini): 37.95714°N, 23.61103°W
 * 4) Coast Guard apron at Tatoi Air Base: 38.10975°N, 23.78208°W
 * 5) Aspropyrgos Maritime Communications Radio Station SXE: 38.03681°N, 23.58542°W
 * 6) Piraeus Central Port Authority: 37.93972°N, 23.64°W
 * 7) Enlisted men training facility (Σχολή Λιμενοφυλάκων): 37.93619°N, 23.62789°W
 * 8) Piraeus VTMIS AIS receiver 002393200 37.93948°N, 23.63968°W
 * 9) Psyttaleia Island VTMIS AIS receiver 002391100 37.94367°N, 23.5944°W
 * 10) Patras VTS 38.24617°N, 21.72886°W
 * 11) Thessaloniki VTS 40.63802°N, 22.92522°W
 * 12) Corfu Island VTS 39.62708°N, 19.90554°W
 * 13) Igoumenitsa VTS 39.48799°N, 20.25899°W
 * 14) Lavrion VTS 37.71394°N, 24.06252°W
 * 15) Rafina Port 38.02245°N, 24.0087°W