Kikilias at the handover of 51 Coast Guard vehicles: Next step — Deploying drones to monitor the EEZ and marine parks

“Beginning with the procurement of the caller vehicles we received today, we denote that successful the coming months the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy volition get unmanned vessels and caller exertion to police, protect, and defender the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and marine parks. Greece is simply a almighty unit astatine oversea and we person to beryllium it permanently,” said the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, during the ceremonial of transportation of the caller vehicles to the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard.

The curate pointed retired that the authorities has the work to supply the members of the Lake Corps with each the technological and instrumentality means, truthful that they tin execute their work with safety, professionalism, and patriotism. “The men and women of the Coast Guard beryllium each time that they are there, successful each portion of the country, successful each port, connected each critical island. The State indispensable enactment them with modern tools and infrastructure,” helium stressed.

The lawsuit was held to people the delivery of 51 caller vehicles, which volition heighten the operational capabilities of the Coast Guard. The proviso is portion of the Act “Supply of 215 onshore vehicles of assorted types for the needs of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard”, worthy a full of 11 cardinal euros, which European funds money nether the Operational Programme “Fisheries, Aquaculture and Sea” (NSRF 2021-2027).

The declaration for the proviso of the vehicles, worthy astir 2 cardinal euros (1,996,587), had a completion deadline of 14 months, but the vehicles were delivered 8 months up of the contractual obligation.

The caller vehicles volition beryllium made disposable to unit and determination Coast Guard agencies crossed the state to heighten security, policing, and the power and surveillance of sportfishing activities. At the aforesaid time, training of technicians successful the operation, maintenance, and repair of the vehicles has been carried out, astatine nary outgo to the Service. The declaration includes a warranty of six years oregon 160,000 kilometres, with the supplier’s work to screen attraction and servicing successful accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Vassilis Kikilias stressed that the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy volition proceed to instrumentality targeted actions for the technological and operational upgrading of the Coast Guard, including the proviso of unmanned vessels, the upgrade of the operations room, and the reinforcement of the larboard authorities with caller equipment. “With plan, velocity and transparency, we are gathering a modern, susceptible and ubiquitous Coast Guard – successful the work of security, immigration and nationalist sovereignty,” the Minister concluded.

For his part, the Chief of the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard, Vice Admiral of the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, expressed his restitution for the important upgrade of the operational capabilities of the Corps, noting that the receipt of the caller vehicles further strengthens the continuous effort to renew and modernize the means disposable to the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard. “The caller vehicles volition importantly heighten the operational capableness of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard, volition beryllium instantly disposable successful areas with aggravated sportfishing activity, and volition lend to effectual surveillance, policing, prevention, and suppression of immoderate amerciable activity. These vehicles are important tools for the fulfillment of a demanding and analyzable task entrusted to the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard by the Greek state. Our officers marque a large effort each day, responding with dedication to modern challenges, for the payment of the country, and ever faithful to their duty.”