Hellenic Coast Guard

Hellenic Coast Guard
File:Hellenic Coast Guard Arms-rls.jpg Coat of Arms of the Hellenic Coast Guard
Active	1919
Country	Greece
Type	Paramilitary
Role	Coast Guard
Patron	St. Nicholas
Commanders
Commandant	Vice Admiral D. Bantias
Ceremonial chief	Vice Admiral K. Kounougeris
Deputy Commandant	Vice Admiral D. Tsiadis
General Inspector	Rear 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

Old ensign of the Hellenic Coast Guard (in use 1964-1980).

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°02′12.5″N 23°35′7.5″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.

Role and responsibilities

PLS-015 in port in Crete

Saar 4 class

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.

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)

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	Αρχικελευστής Archikelefstis	Επικελευστής Epikelefstis	Κελευστής Kelefstis		Λιμενοφύλακας Limenofylakas

Fleet

Lambro PB-57 patrol boat ΛΣ-601 at Zea Marina Coast Guard Station, Piraeus.

Boston Whaler ΛΣ-798 patrol craft of the Hellenic Coast Guard, towed for a parade.

SAR-513, one of ten Arun 60 lifeboats operated by the Hellenic CG, at Zea Marina Coast Guard Station, Piraeus.

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.

Model	Type	Length	Displ.	In service	Notes
Dilos	Patrol	29	100	6	Design by Abeking & Rasmussen ΛΣ-010, ΛΣ-020, ΛΣ-030, ΛΣ-040
Saar 4	Open Sea Patrol	58	450	3	With 30 mm gun, no missiles fitted. ΛΣ-060, ΛΣ-070, ΛΣ-080
Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1	Open Sea Patrol	47.3	240	1	ΛΣ-050, ex Greek Customs
CB-90HCG	Coastal Patrol	15.9	20	3	ΛΣ-134, ΛΣ-135, ΛΣ-136
Arun Halmatic	Lifeboats	16	37	10	SAR-510
Lambro Halmatic 60	Lifeboats	18	37	10	SAR-511 to SAR-520
LCS-57 (Lambro-57)	Coastal Patrol	17.4 m	25	35	ΛΣ-137 series, ΛΣ-601 series
LCS-53 (Lambro Sunquestor-53)	Patrol	16.5	25	11	ΛΣ-114 series
Olympic L65/74	Coastal Patrol	23		4	ΛΣ-102 series
D-45	Coastal Patrol	13.9	25	4
D-45M	Coastal Patrol	13.9	25	5
Olympic L-44	Patrol	14	25	3	ΛΣ-153 series
MIL-38		11.85	7	2
MIL-40		13	7	2	ΛΣ-132, ΛΣ-133
Magna Onda		11.7	5.4	2
Super Onda		8.6	2.8	2
Boston Whaler	Coastal patrol, Diver support	9		3	ΛΣ-798, ... Donated by the USCG in 2004.
LS-413 (LMPA)	Pollution control	29	240	3	by Astilleros Gondan, Spain.
Pollcat	Pollution control	18.5	85	3

Aircraft inventory

Reims Cessna F-406 aircraft of the Hellenic Coast Guard

Socata TB-20 Trinidad single engine aircraft AC-3 of the Hellenic CG at Dekelia Air Base.

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). 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	In service	Notes
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	AC-1, AC-2	utility	172RG	2
Cessna 406 Caravan II	AC-21 to AC-23	maritime patrol	F406	3	built by Reims
Eurocopter Super Puma		SAR helicopter	AS 332C	4	Operated by the Hellenic Air Force
Aérospatiale Dauphin	HC-31 to HC-36	patrol helicopter	AS 365N3	6	Based at Kotroni Naval Air Station (LGKN) in cooperation with Hellenic Navy
Socata TB	AC-3, AC-4	utility	TB 20	2

HCG facilities

1. New headquarters and VTMIS operations centre: 37°56′33″N 23°37′35″E
2. Old headquarters and SAR coordination centre: 37°56′23.5″N 23°38′55″E
3. Mooring for Open Sea Patrol Vessels (Keratsini): 37°57′25.7″N 23°36′39.7″E
4. Coast Guard apron at Tatoi Air Base: 38°06′35.1″N 23°46′55.5″E
5. Aspropyrgos Maritime Communications Radio Station SXE: 38°02′12.5″N 23°35′7.5″E
6. Piraeus Central Port Authority: 37°56′23″N 23°38′24″E
7. Enlisted men training facility (Σχολή Λιμενοφυλάκων): 37°56′10.3″N 23°37′40.4″E
8. Piraeus VTMIS AIS receiver 002393200 37°56.369′N 023°38.381′E
9. Psyttaleia Island VTMIS AIS receiver 002391100 37°56.620′N 23°35.664′E
10. Patras VTS 38.24617°N 21.72886°E / 38.24617; 21.72886
11. Thessaloniki VTS 40.63802°N 22.92522°E / 40.63802; 22.92522
12. Corfu Island VTS 39.62708°N 19.90554°E / 39.62708; 19.90554
13. Igoumenitsa VTS 39.48799°N 20.25899°E / 39.48799; 20.25899
14. Lavrion VTS 37.71394°N 24.06252°E / 37.71394; 24.06252
15. Rafina Port 38°01.347′N 24°0.522′E

External links

• Hellenic Coast Guard official website
• International Lifeboat Federation
• "Insignia of HCG Officers and Petty Officers" (JPEG). Ministry of Merchant Marine. http://egov.yen.gr/Folder.2003-07-23.3052/Folder.2003-07-23.3919/diakritika.jpg. Retrieved 2008-08-11.