Skip to main content
Back to the list

PORTUGAL

European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) Joint Deployment Plans

Source: EFCA Website

The EFCA coordinates the implementation of Specific Control and Inspection Programmes (SCIP) for the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Western Waters. EFCA, with the MS’s, provides a specific organisational framework for operational coordination of control activities in the different areas, known as Joint Deployment Plan (JDP’s). The JDPs are for fisheries/areas prioritised by the European Commission and the MS’s concerned. They can be for European Union waters for which the SCIP has been adopted by the Commission with the Member States, or for International waters under the competence of an RFMO, such as NAFO or NEAFC, where EFCA is requested to coordinate the implementation of the EU obligations under an International Control and Inspection Scheme.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control

International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF)

Source: IMRF Website

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity around the world, improving maritime SAR capability worldwide. The IMRF brings together the world's maritime SAR organisations involving both voluntary and governmental organisations. As well as capacity building, the IMRF also has an advocacy role, providing an international voice for its members. It is the only maritime SAR NGO with consultative status at the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue

European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF)

Source: ECGFF Website

The European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF) is a self-governing, non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together the Coast Guard authorities from 25 EU Member States and Schengen associated countries, as well as representatives of the EU institutions and bodies with competencies related to EU CG Functions. Since its establishment in 2009 the European Commission and EU Agencies, have supported the ECGFF. The rotating chair, supported by a secretariat, governs the Forum with responsibility to implement the annual programme. Bringing together over 30 national coastguard authorities from EU countries and associated Schengen countries, it works on collaborative issues i.e. multi-agency, multinational operations and capacity building among CG academies.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Lisbon Agreement: Cooperation Agreement for the Protection of the Coasts and Waters of the Northeast Atlantic against Pollution

Source: Portugal DGPM Website

On 17 October 1990, Portugal, France, Morocco, Spain and the European Community signed the Lisbon Agreement, which is essentially a mechanism to ensure cooperation between the Contracting Parties in the event of a pollution incident. Such a pollution incident is a discharge or danger of a discharge of hydrocarbons or other harmful substances, which has occasioned or may occasion damage to the marine environment, the coast or the related interests of one or more of the Parties, and requiring emergency action or an immediate reaction. The Agreement establish the obligation on the Contracting Parties to create their own intervention agencies and to set their own national plans of action. An International Centre, located in Portugal, is assisting the Parties to react swiftly and effectively to pollution incidents.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Countries involved

European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)

Source: EAASP Website

The EAASP aims to work in partnership through the mutual exchange of knowledge and practices to make the ports of Europe a safe environment for the communities they serve. The responsibility for the control of seaports within EAASP member countries lies, as it does with aviation, with national organisations. However, the EAASP Maritime Group (EMG) can, and does, play an important role in the coordination and implementation of joint security operations carried out by those organisations, as well as legislative changes relating to the management and security of seaports. The EMG promotes common standards and inter-operability, and aims to develop the exchange of information and intelligence.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Marine Accident Investigators International Forum (MAIIF)

Source: MAIIF Website

The Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation. It aims to promote and improve marine accident investigation, and to foster cooperation and communication between marine accident investigators. It aims to develop and sustain a co-operative relationship among national marine investigators in order to share knowledge in an international forum, and to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution via the dissemination of information from the investigative process. 

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response

North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF)

Source: Defense Media Network

The North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF), formed in 2007, aims to increase cooperation amongst member countries on maritime safety and security in the region. The NACGF is not policy or regulatory oriented, is non-binding, voluntary, and operates within existing legal frameworks. Its members are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland have observer status.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Border Control
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N)

Source: MAOC-N Website

The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC (N)), based in Lisbon, has 7 EU Member Countries: France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and the UK. It is co-funded by the Internal Security Fund of the EU and is a forum for multi-lateral cooperation to suppress illicit drug trafficking by sea and air. It is a European Law Enforcement unit with military support that coordinates maritime and aviation intelligence, resources and trained personnel to respond to the threat of illicit drug trafficking.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Maritime Customs Activities

Coordination Centre for Anti-Drug Enforcement in the Mediterranean (CeCLAD-M)

Source: Légifrance

The Centre de Coordination de la Lutte Anti-drogue en Méditerranée, or Coordination Centre for Anti-Drug Enforcement in the Mediterranean area was established in 2008 during the French Presidency of the EU. It is based near Paris, France, and is closely modelled on MAOC-N in Lisbon. The centre aims to intercept drug trafficking from Northern and Western Africa in the Mediterranean.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Customs Activities

Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF)

Source: Secretariat General for the Sea - CGF Ops Center

The Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF) is a non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together representatives from institutions and agencies with related competencies in coast guard functions in the Mediterranean. The aim is to facilitate multilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues such as maritime safety, security and environmental protection activities as well as creating partnerships to share experience and best practices on common problems.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Mediterranean AIS Regional Exchange System - MareΣ

Source: Italian Coast Guard Website

The Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 requires the Member States (MSs) to provide themselves with appropriate equipment and shore-based installations for receiving and utilizing the AIS information transmitted by the vessels. The Member States agreed to implement common regional systems hosted and developed by one of them. EMSA and the Italian Coast Guard subscribed, since 2009, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) by which Italy is responsible for the hosting, maintenance, operation, and monitoring of the Mediterranean AIS Regional Server (MAREΣ) and its connection with SafeSeaNet. Part of SafeSeaNet, MAREΣ (Mediterranean AIS Regional Exchange System) officially started to run on 1st January 2008; currently it allows the AIS information sharing among Mediterranean EU countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia) and non-EU which agreed to share AIS data between themselves (e.g., Jordan, Morocco, and Montenegro).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Ship and Port Security

AQUAPOL - International Police Cooperation on the Water

Source: AQUAPOL Website

AQUAPOL’s vision is for a more safe, secure and environmental-friendly waterborne transport in Europe by enhancement of law-enforcement through cross-border cooperation. The AQUAPOL organisation acts as a platform for learning and for a permanent exchange of good practice for law-enforcement in the domain of waterborne transport in Europe. Its main activities are focussed on exchange of intelligence, exchange of operational information and experience, and cross border cooperation in day-to-day law-enforcement work. AQUAPOL works closely together with a number of external stakeholders at operational, policy, and legislative level.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Help us improve!