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Catalogue of Best Practices, Guidelines, and Manuals

The The Best Practice Guidelines and Manuals Catalogue made available on this online platform constitutes a non-exhaustive compilation of documents of relevance to coast guard functions, originating from EFCA, EMSA, and Frontex.
Additional information may be accessed through the following official sources:

  • EFCA: https://www.efca.europa.eu/en/library?f%5B0%5D=type%3A25&f%5B1%5D=type%3A44
  • EMSA: Publications - EMSA - European Maritime Safety Agency
  • Frontex: https://www.frontex.europa.eu/publications/
  • Addressing Illegal Discharges in the Marine Environment
    Reference
    EMSA 6
    Agencies
    EMSA
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    Since Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal
    penalties, for pollution offences was adopted; progress has been made by Member States in addressing illegal
    discharges in the marine environment.

    https://emsa.europa.eu/publications/inventories/item/1879-addressing-illegal-discharges-in-the-marine-environment.html

    Coast guard functions
    Air Crew - Electro-optical and Infrared System Operator
    Reference
    Frontex 1
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The main objective of this manual is to set common advanced training standards for Frontex electro-optical and
    infrared (EOIR) systems operator training. The operator training programme aims at improving and sharing
    knowledge on various operations scenarios and with different equipment, improving crew coordination and
    describing measures to minimalise the risk associated with tactical missions.

    Contact: HoU.TRU@frontex.europa.eu 

     

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Air Crew - Helicopter Hoist Operator: Standard Training Procedures
    Reference
    Frontex 2
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The manual was developed with the purpose of harmonising and standardising the techniques and procedures that are used by helicopter hoist operators during Frontex Joint Operations and to train instructors in Member States/Schengen Associated Countries to expert level and to prepare hoist operators for Frontex Joint Operations.

    Contact: HoU.TRU@frontex.europa.eu  

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Air Crew - Night Vision Googles: Standard Training Procedures for Helicopters
    Reference
    Frontex 3
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The night vision goggles (NVG) Training procedures manual contains clear guidelines for instructors to train crew members of the Member States (MS)/ Schengen Associated Countries (SAC) in the use of NVG.

    Contact: HoU.TRU@frontex.europa.eu  

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Air-Crew Training Manual
    Reference
    Frontex 19
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    This Frontex Air-Crew Training Manual is the first step towards a unified European air operation system for border guards and police forces. A high level of flight safety through common training standards, the sharing of best practices, and harmonised procedures is the way forward to ensure successful future Joint Operations (JOs) in European border security. The main objective of this training manual is to set common training standards for both national and Frontex training.

    This Manual sets common standards within Frontex Air-Crew Training for JOs for the following:

    - meteorological flight minima

    - proposals for the minimum flight crew

    - description of training needs for air-crew members’ standardisation

    - description of common training courses.

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Search and Rescue
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Anti-trafficking training for Border Guards: Trainer’s manual (2012)
    Reference
    Frontex 4
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    This trainer’s manual aims at providing a modern training package for trainers of first- and second-line border guards. The training material comprises three training modules: Awareness, Identification and Interviewing. Trafficking of children is incorporated as a separate section in all three modules.

    Contact: HoU.TRU@frontex.europa.eu 

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Boarding in Frontex-coordinated Joint Maritime Operations: Best Practices & Guidelines
    Reference
    Frontex 13
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The document sets out good or best practices in the practical conduct of boarding during Frontex-coordinated Maritime Joint Operation. Within this framework, a working group was set up to collect experience from the practitioners in the field, by evaluating the response to incidents, the preparedness and the lessons identified and learned, assessing the difference in approach between authorities and the interpretation of the legal framework supporting the activities.

    Contact: HoS.CGS@frontex.europa.eu; cgs.ot@frontex.europa.eu  

    Link: https://myfx.frontex.europa.eu/cases/GRP209/GRP-2021-00010/Documents/2022/9.%20Documents%20referred%20to%20in%20the%20OPLANs/2.%20Sea/Handbook%20on%20Boarding%20in%20Frontex%20Coordinated%20Joint%20Maritime%20Operations%20Best%20Practices%20&%20Guidelines.pdf#search=Boarding%20in%20Frontex%2Dcoordinated%20Joint%20Maritime%20Operation 

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Search and Rescue
    Common Core Curriculum - EU Border Guard Basic Training (2017)
    Reference
    Frontex 5
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The CCC offers a set of standards for national border guard training institutions, teachers and students in all EU Member States. The CCC for border guard basic training in the EU (including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) consists of a General Part and separate air, land and sea border modules.

    Contact: HoU.TRU@frontex.europa.eu 

    Link: https://myfx.frontex.europa.eu/cases/PRJ36/PRJ-2018-00009/Documents/40%20Deliverables/Glossary/Tri-Lingual%20Glossary%20(aka%20Alef)/Sources/List%20of%20Sources-Publications/Common%20Core%20Curriculum%20for%20Border%20and%20Coast%20Guard%20Basic%20Training%20in%20the%20EU.pdf#search=Common%20Core%20Curriculum

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Search and Rescue
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model (CIRAM) and CIRAM Guidelines
    Reference
    Frontex 9
    Agencies
    FRONTEX
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    The objective of the CIRAM is to establish a conceptual framework to assist Frontex and Member States in the preparation of risk analyses and to promote a common understanding of risk analysis. The CIRAM establish a clear and transparent methodology for risk analysis, which should serve as a benchmark for analytical activities, thus promoting harmonisation and the preconditions for efficient information exchange and cooperation in the field of border security.

    Contact: HoU.ANALYSIS@frontex.europa.eu

    Link: https://www.frontex.europa.eu/what-we-do/monitoring-and-risk-analysis/ciram/

    Coast guard functions
    • Maritime Border Control
    • Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
    • Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
    • Maritime Ship and Port Security
    EFCA Core Curriculum for the Training of Fishery Inspectors and Union Inspectors – 3, General Principles & Specific Types of Fishery Inspection
    Reference
    EFCA 7
    Agencies
    EFCA
    Aims/Objectives/Audience

    Designed specifically for the training of fisheries officials, Union Inspectors before their first deployment, as well
    as other officials in the Member States and the Commission. This is a handbook for the trainee to help them
    understand the general principles and specific types of fisheries inspections.

    https://www.efca.europa.eu/sites/default/files/atoms/files/CC%20for%20the%20training%20of%20fisheries%20inspectors%20and%20union%20inspectors.%203%20General%20principles.pdf

    Coast guard functions
    • Fisheries Inspection & Control