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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard
AbbreviationSVG Coast Guard
Agency overview
Formed2 December 1980 (1980-12-02)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
HeadquartersKingstown, Grenadines
Parent agencyRoyal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force
Facilities
Vessels

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard (abbreviated as the SVG Coast Guard) is the maritime security and search and rescue element of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. It was founded on 2 December 1980, when eight Police Force officers underwent training at the Royal Naval Engineering College in the United Kingdom.

Operations

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SVG 09 conducts non-compliant vessel pursuit exercises as a part of the training Operation Tradewinds 15

On 14 October 2022, a patrol boat of the SVG Coast Guard intercepted and boarded a pirogue west of the island of Canouan. The coast guard vessel detained four Trinidad and Tobago nationals who were smuggling approximately 300 grams (11 oz) of cocaine and carrying small arms ammunition.[1][2]

Organization

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The SVG Coast Guard consists of approximately 55 servicemembers trained in Barbados, Antigua, the United States, or the United Kingdom.[3]

On 1 April 1984, the SVG Coast Guard adopted the blue uniforms of the SVG Police Force, but differentiated its rank structure to follow a naval system similar to that of the Royal Navy. Its headquarters and main docks is in Kingstown on Saint Vincent, but it also operates several other bases on Calliaqua, Union Island, Bequia, and Canouan.[3][4]

SVG Coast Guard Ranks
Officer Rank Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant
Epaulette Insignia
Enlisted Rank Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Able Seaman
Epaulette Insignia

Ships

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The George McIntosh was the first patrol boat in the SVG Coast Guard, built in and funded by the United Kingdom. It was accepted on 21 November 1981, and immediately began search and rescue operations, saving the crew of the sinking motor vessel Simone V in January 1982. The Canadian government funded two additional 27-foot (8.2 m) patrol boats in October 1982, which were built domestically in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and were called Larakai and Brighton. The Captain Hugh Mulzac, a 120-foot (37 m) patrol boat, arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1987 after sailing from the United States, which funded and upkeeps the vessel.[3] The Captain Hugh Mulzac became the new flagship of the Coast Guard, and is operates in both maritime security and search and rescue roles.[5] In more recent years, the small boats Larakai and Brighton were decommissioned, and were replaced by several rigid hull inflatable boats and the larger patrol boat Hairoun.[3][6] The need for a sea ambulance was filled in October 2019, when the Balliceaux arrived as a new ship in the fleet.[7]

Ship Name Image Type Commissioned Origin Status
Patrol Boats
SVG 04 Hairoun 40-foot patrol boat 2012  United States In service
SVG 05 George McIntosh 75-foot patrol boat 21 November 1981  United Kingdom Decommissioned in 2012
SVG 07 Larakai 27-foot patrol boat October 1982  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Decommissioned
SVG 08 Brighton 27-foot patrol boat October 1982  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Decommissioned
SVG 08 Chatham Bay 24-foot Boston Whaler boat In service
SVG 09 33-foot Defender-class safe boat 25 May 2018  United States In service
SVG Captain Mulzac 120-foot patrol boat 13 June 1987  United States Decommissioned
SVG 01 Captain Hugh Mulzac 140-foot patrol boat 21 January 2019  Jamaica In service; flagship of the Coast Guard
Rigid hull inflatable boats
SVG 02 Rigid hull inflatable boat
SVG 03 Rigid hull inflatable boat
Other ships
SVG 05 Balliceaux Sea ambulance 15 October 2019  The Netherlands (Funded by United States) In service

References

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  1. ^ "St Vincent: Coast Guard holds T&T nationals with cocaine and ammo | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  2. ^ "SVG Coast Guard seizes Trinidadian vessel with cocaine, ammunition on board". www.searchlight.vc. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "History – Ministry of National Security, Air and Sea Port Development". www.security.gov.vc. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Coast Guard Operations Center – St. Vincent". Palgag. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  5. ^ "SVG adds Captain Hugh Mulzac to Coastguard fleet of ships". www.searchlight.vc. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  6. ^ "SVG Receives New Coast Guard Vessel". www.gov.vc. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  7. ^ "St. Vincent Coast Guard meets SVG 05 Balliceaux". Caribbean News Now!. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
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