Skip to main content

Greece-Cyprus Agreement Cooperation in the Field of Search and Rescue

Source: Hellenic Coast Guard

Agreement between the government of the Hellenic Republic and the government of Cyprus on Co-operation in the Field of Search and Rescue (2014).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue
Countries involved

Greece-Italian MOU on Cooperation in Search and Rescue

Source: Hellenic Coast Guard

Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the Hellenic Republic and the government of the Italian Republic on Cooperation in Search and Rescue Operations in the Ionian Sea (2000).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue
Countries involved

Greece-Malta Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Search and Rescue

Source: Hellenic Coast Guard

Agreement between the government of the Hellenic Republic and the government of Malta on Co-operation in the Field of Search and Rescue (2008).

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue
Countries involved

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)

Source: IOTC Website

The IOTC is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. It works to achieve this by promoting cooperation among its Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties in order to ensure the conservation and appropriate utilisation of fish stocks and encouraging the sustainable development of fisheries. At each Session of the Commission, Members may adopt Conservation and Management Measures concerning the management of tuna and tuna-like species under the IOTC mandate as well as the fisheries, which target them. These decisions are passed in the form of either Resolutions or Recommendations. There are currently 31 Members, including the EU, and two cooperating Non-Contracting Parties (CNCP) i.e. Senegal and Liberia.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
EU

Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Port State Control

Source: Paris MOU Website

The Paris MOU is based on the principle that the prime responsibility for compliance with the requirements laid down in the international maritime conventions lies with the ship-owner/operator. Responsibility for ensuring compliance remains with the flag State. It aims to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships through a harmonized system of port State control. The members are Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

European Search and Rescue Plan (EUR Doc 039) - International Civil Aviation Organisation

Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) UN Agency Website

The Plan aims to identify the status of SAR preparedness of EUR Region States and State SAR arrangements. It also makes recommendations for SAR planning and preparedness enhancements, in terms of compliance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Annex 12, the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual guidance, and accepted best international practice. It provides recommendations to IMO for harmonised and interoperable delivery of both aeronautical and maritime SAR services. It requires regular updating to keep current with changes in ICAO Annexes and guidance material, the IAMSAR Manual, regional aviation activity, developments in ATM system, new technology, political considerations, as well as human performance lessons learned from actual SAR responses.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Search and Rescue

Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)

Source: IFC-IOR Website

The IFC-IOR stems from the importance of the Indian Ocean to world trade and security, and the need for the various maritime nations and organisations to collaborate towards enhancing maritime safety and security on the seas of this region. In addition to utilising the collective wisdom and resources towards addressing myriad challenges in the region, IFC-IOR will help interface and integrate, wherein, all partners and stakeholders would benefit from each other’s best practices and expertise. The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard jointly administer the IFC. IFC-IOR was established with the vision of strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond, by building a common coherent maritime situation picture and acting as a maritime information hub for the region.

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 Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Countries involved

Information Fusion Centre – Singapore (IFC)

Source: IFC Website

The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) is a regional Maritime Security (MARSEC) centre hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The IFC aims to facilitate information sharing and collaboration between its partners to enhance MARSEC. Since its inception, the IFC has been at the forefront of providing actionable information to cue responses by regional and international navies, coast guards and other maritime agencies to deal with the full range of MARSEC threats and incidents. This includes piracy, sea robbery, weapons proliferation, maritime terrorism, as well as contraband and drug smuggling. On addition to RSN personnel the centre hosts liaison officers from 24 countries i.e. Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

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 Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)

Source: IATTC Website

The objective of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna and tuna-like species and other species of fish taken by vessels fishing for tunas and tuna like species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Members are Belize, Canada, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador El Salvador, the European Union, France, Guatemala, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Chinese Taipei, US, Vanuatu and Venezuela. Bolivia, Honduras, Indonesia, Liberia are Cooperating Non Members.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Countries involved

International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

Source: IALA AISM website

Initially, IALA was a non-profit, international technical association. Established in 1957, it gathered marine aids to navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants, and, scientific and training institutes from all parts of the world to exchange and compare their experiences and achievements. On 22 August 2024, it officially changed its status from a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) based on a Convention.
The aim of IALA is to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels, through improvement and harmonisation of aids to navigation worldwide and other appropriate means, for the benefit of the maritime community and the protection of the environment.

It provides for recommendations (soft law).
 

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

Help us improve!