The 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. Translated English Version 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.
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.
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:
Ensuring public order, including general policing and traffic policing. Safeguarding of public and state security. Law enforcement at sea, ports and coastal areas.Maritime border control. Surveillance of the sea, shipping, ports and borders. Drug interdiction. Search and rescue (jointly with the Hellenic Air Force and Hellenic Navy). 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.
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). On land the Hellenic Coast Guard is equipped with 634 vehicles, including patrol vehicles, cars and motorcycles, buses and mini vans, trucks and tanker. The Coast Guard also operate seven airplanes and six helicopters.
Organization
The Hellenic Coast Guard is under the authority of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, which is headed by a commandant and assisted by two deputy commandants who all have the rank of vice admiral (). , Georgios Alexandrakis serves as Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard.
The Hellenic Coast Guard operates the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Piraeus and the Emergency Radio Communications Station SXE at Aspropyrgos (). 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 () at Piraeus, for a duration of two years. With law Law 4029 of 2011, a volunteer Auxiliary Coast Guard was established. 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.
Ranks and insignia Commissioned officers
NCOs and enlisted
Fleet As of 2015, the structure of the Hellenic Coast Guard consists of a fleet 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. 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. In August 2023, the Hellenic Coast Guard ordered 31 Munin S1200 patrol boats and three Metis high-speed RHIBs. Five Finnish-built fast patrol boats "Watercat 2000 Patrol" were ordered in early November 2023.
Model & ClassPhotoTypeLength (m)Displacement (tonnes)OriginYear of IntroductionIn serviceNotesStan Patrol 5509 / Class Gavdos OPV 58,5 565 2015 1 Vessel ΛΣ-090, built by Damen shipyards; delivered October 2015 with more than 82,5% funding from EU's External Borders Fund; weapon systems of choice to be installed still unspecifiedSpeed 27-30 knots Sa'ar 4.5 / Class Fourni OPV 58 400 2003 3 Vessels ΛΣ-060, ΛΣ-070 built in Israel (2003) and ΛΣ-080 built in Greece (2004) are weapon-downsized/modified FACs - each with an OTO Breda 30mm/70 gun as main armament and two remote controlled .50" heavy machine guns without anti-ship missiles; acquired prior to the 2004 Athens OlympicsSpeed 34.5 knots Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 / Class Arkoi OPV 47.3 300 2002 1 Vessel ΛΣ-050 originally bought by Financial Crime Prosecution Authorities 1994; transferred to HCG 2002 - remained decommissioned due mechanical problems; significant maintenance and repairs 2014; entered active service following donations from "Aikaterini Laskaridi" Foundation Can be armed with 40mm gun as main weapon systemSpeed 40 knotsCantiere Navale Vittoria P355 GR / Class Marinos Zampatis OPV 36.3 160 2020 4 Three ships ordered January 2019, with a plus one option - exercised July 2019 (90% EU funding); first two ships received December 2020; fourth January 2022; to replace the older Dilos (Abeking) class and to be fitted with 2x.50 LRCWS(Light Remotely Controlled Weapon Stations)Vessels ΛΣ-900, ΛΣ-910, ΛΣ-920, ΛΣ-930; speed 40 knots Abeking & Rasmussen / Class Dilos (Δήλος) Patrol 29 86 1977 - under decommissioning 6 Vessels ΛΣ-010, ΛΣ-015, ΛΣ-020, ΛΣ-025, ΛΣ-030, ΛΣ-040 by Marinos Zampatis class; design by Abeking & Rasmussen and built by ENAE shipyardsSpeed 27 knots POB-24G / Class Faiakas (Φαίακας) Patrol 24.6 50 2015 2 Vessels ΛΣ-617 and ΛΣ-618 delivered; remaining four boats (type POB-24G) initial order to not be delivered following legal action of HCG against manufacturer; Vessel ΛΣ-618 equipped with an EMILY robotic SAR device; all boats have .50" heavy machine gun; speed 32 knots Javelin-74 Coastal Patrol 19.2 27 2002 3 Vessels ΛΣ-192, ΛΣ-193, ΛΣ-194Speed 50+ knots LCS-57 (Lambro-57) Mk.II Coastal Patrol 19.2 27 2002 16 Vessels ΛΣ-601 to ΛΣ-616Built by MotoMarine-Greece;(open access eBook) speed 50+ knots LCS-57 (Lambro-57) Mk.I Coastal Patrol 18.2 28 1998 19 Vessels ΛΣ-137 to ΛΣ-151 and ΛΣ-169 to ΛΣ-172Built by MotoMarine-Greece; speed 44 knots LCS-53 (Lambro-53 Guardian) Coastal Patrol 16.8 21 1992 11 Vessels ΛΣ-114 to ΛΣ-126Built by MotoMarine-Greece; speed 33 knotsFabio Buzzi Design 56SF Patrol / HCG Special Forces16,100/1515 Fabio Buzzi 56F patrol boats ordered January 2020 - to be delivered by 2023; speed 50+ knots CB-90HCG Patrol / HCG Special Forces 15.9 18.5 1999 3 Combat boats by Dockstavarvet; armed with two twin remote-controlled .50" heavy machine guns with level IV armor platesVessels ΛΣ-134 to ΛΣ-136; allocated to the HCG's Special Forces (Ionian Islands); speed 45 knots Olympic D65/74 Coastal Patrol 22.5 30 1973 - under decommissioning 4Unknown number of boats still in service for secondary tasks / ΛΣ-102 series Olympic D-45M Coastal Patrol 13.9 25 1973 - under decommissioning 5Unknown number of boats still in service for secondary tasks Olympic D-45 Coastal Patrol 13.9 25 1973 - under decommissioning 4Unknown number of boats still in service for secondary tasks Olympic D-44 Coastal Patrol 13.4 25 1973 - under decommissioning 3Unknown number of boats still in service for secondary tasks / ΛΣ-153 series Wellcraft Coastal Patrol / HCG Special Forces 2004 1Donated by USCG 2004; Vessel ΛΣ-797 allocated to HCG's Seals Madera MRCD-1250 Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces 12,5 2 Military grade boats for HCG's Seals; able to carry 10-12 troops each; armed with .50" gun and two 7.62mm machine guns; speed 49 knots Fabio Buzzi MIL-40 Patrol / HCG Special Forces 12.2 7 1997 2 Vessels ΛΣ-132 and ΛΣ-133; Allocated to HCG's Special Forces (Ionian islands)Speed 50-55 knots Magna Onda Patrol / HCG Special Forces 11.7 5.4 1987 2Allocated to the HCG's Special Forces (Aegean islands); speed 52 knots Halter Marine HSB Patrol / HCG Special Forces 11.6 2004 1 Donated by USCG 2004 Fabio Buzzi MIL-38 Patrol / HCG Special Forces 11.58 7 1997 2 Vessels ΛΣ-129 and ΛΣ-130 allocated to HCG's Special Forces (Aegean islands)Speed 50-55 knotsRafnar 1100Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces11,54202010Donation from 'Union of Greek Shipowners'; Icelandic design, built by RAFNAR Hellas under licence; Vessels ΛΣ-1054 to ΛΣ-1063; speed 50+ knotsNaval Special Warfare (NSW)Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces117.920222Donated by US May 2022 - along with four more to Hellenic Navy; speed 45 knots Magna 110 Hurricane Mk.I/II Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces 10,8 2013 2ΛΣ-1002, ΛΣ-1005 System 33/Nemesis RIB Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces 10.35 2014 10 All vessels donated by SNF; speed 50+ knots Oceanic Interceptor Patrol RIB / HCG Special Forces 2004?Allocated to HCG's Seals Super Onda Patrol / HCG Special Forces 8.6 2.8 1987 2 Allocated to HCG's Special Forces (Aegean islands); speed 52 knots Boston Whaler, Outrage-280 Patrol / HCG Special Forces 8.34 3 2004 3 Allocated to HCG's Special Forces Piraeus; ΛΣ-798, ΛΣ-799 and ΛΣ-800; Donated by USCG 2004 Gibli-1025 Coastal Patrol RIB 10,25 2001 12Vessels ΛΣ-3xx Mostro Top Gun 964 Coastal Patrol RIB 9.9 1.6 1997 8Vessels ΛΣ-2xxMostro Top Gun 864Coastal Patrol RIB9.31.4199211Vessels ΛΣ-2xx Oceanic 9000 Stealth Coastal Patrol RIB 9 2 1998 18Vessels ΛΣ-3xx Magna 31 Coastal Patrol RIB 8.6 2.8 2013 2 ΛΣ-1003, ΛΣ-1004Viking Norsafe Munin S1200 Extended CabinAmbulance Vessel12720207/15Built by Viking Norsafe Hellas; Vessels ΛΣ-1064 to ΛΣ-1070 allocated to Greek islands; speed 40 knots Lambro Halmatic 60 Lifeboat 18 37 1999 10 Vessels' series Ν/Γ-511 to Ν/Γ-520 Arun Halmatic Lifeboat 16 37 1992 1 Vessel Ν/Γ-510 LMPA-29 Pollution control 29 240 1994 5 Built by Motomarine, Greece; Designed by Astilleros Gondan, Spain; Vessels ΛΣ-413 to ΛΣ-417 Pollcat Pollution control 19 85 1999 4 Built by Manor Marine, Portland; designed by Desmi Denmark; Vessels ΛΣ-418 to ΛΣ-421 BSK Skipper 38 Patrol Patrol Vessel 12 2024 1 Built by BSK Marine, Koropi, Attica
Aircraft fleet The Hellenic Coast Guard operates a small fleet of fixed wing aircraft based at Tatoi (Dekelia) Air Base, (LGTT, ).
AircraftPhotoIDTypeVersionsOriginYear acquiredIn serviceNotes Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin HC-31 to HC-36 Patrol helicopter AS 365N3 2003 6 Based at Kotroni Naval Air Station (LGKN) in cooperation with Hellenic Navy Cessna 406 Caravan II AC-21 to AC-23 Maritime patrol F406 2000 3 Built by Reims Socata TB AC-3, AC-4 Utility aircraft TB 20 1985 2 Cessna 172 Skyhawk AC-1, AC-2 Utility aircraft 172RG 1981 2IAI Heron 1UC-01UAVHeron 120221
HCG facilities New headquarters and VTMIS operations centre (Pireaus): Old headquarters and SAR coordination centre (Pireaus): Mooring for Open Sea Patrol Vessels (Keratsini): Coast Guard apron at Tatoi Air Base: Aspropyrgos Maritime Communications Radio Station SXE: Piraeus Central Port Authority: