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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

Ireland-UK MOU Between Irish Coast Guard, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the UKs Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Source: Irish Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard (ICG), Dept. of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) signed an MOU under the IMO International Convention for Maritime Search and Rescue to cooperate in the case of major disaster or events of exceptional seriousness, assist one another through their search and rescue services. The MOU defines the formal procedures and technical aspects of the request of assistance between the ICG coordination centres and the UK MCA and both parties further recognise that similar support may be possible in the event of maritime casualties within their EEZs.

Coast Guard Functions
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Countries involved

Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)

Source: JIATF-S Website

Located at Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South) conducts detection and monitoring operations throughout the Caribbean to facilitate the interdiction of illicit trafficking in support of the US (Coast Guard and Navy) and partner nations security, among them France and Netherlands who have national territories in this area. Coordinated operations aim at denying transnational criminal organizations the ability to exploit shipment routes for the movement of narcotics, precursor chemicals, bulk cash, human trafficking and weapons.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Countries involved

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)

Source: NAFO Website

NAFO is an intergovernmental fisheries science and management body, which was founded in 1979 as a successor to the International Commission of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (1949-1978). The NAFO Convention on Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries applies to most fishery resources of the Northwest Atlantic except salmon, tunas/marlins, whales, and sedentary species (e.g. shellfish). NAFO has 12 Contracting Parties i.e. Canada, Cuba, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, France (in respect of St. Pierre and Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Countries involved

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)

Source: NEAFC Website

The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) is the RFMO for the North East Atlantic. The area stretches from the southern tip of Greenland, east to the Barents Sea, and south to Portugal. Its objective is the long-term conservation and optimum utilisation of the fishery resources in the Convention Area. There are 5 contracting partners, Denmark (for Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation, with 6 cooperating Non-Contracting parties, Bahamas, Canada, Curacao, Liberia, New Zealand and Panama.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Countries involved

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

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)

Source: NASCO Website

The Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean (1983) created the intergovernmental organization NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization) with the objective to conserve, restore, enhance and rationally manage wild Atlantic salmon. It created a large, protected zone, free of fisheries targeting Atlantic salmon in most areas beyond 12 nm from the coast. NASCO has six Parties: Canada, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands & Greenland), the European Union, Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America. France (in respect of St.Pierre & Miquelon) attends as an observer. Iceland withdrew in 2009.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
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

Denmark-Germany-Netherlands DENGERNETH Agreement

The DENGERNETH Plan is a trilateral agreement between Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, which establishes a joint response plan to maritime incidents involving oil and other harmful substances, including marine pollution or threat of marine pollution. The plan is an operational agreement, which describes in detail the cooperation in aerial surveillance and oil spill response, and the 3 Member States conduct annual exercises.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response

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