Vietnam Coast Guard
Vietnam Coast Guard (Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam) |
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Seal of the Vietnam Coast Guard
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Active | 28 August 1998 – present |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | 23px Communist Party of Vietnam[1] |
Type | Coastal defence force |
Role | Vietnam maritime law enforcement, patrol, border control, search and rescue, coastal defence |
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Hanoi, Vietnam |
Colours | Blue, White, Orange |
Anniversaries | 28 August |
Equipment | Patrol boats, Offshore vessels, Frigates, Salvage tugs, Search and rescue ships, Aircraft |
Engagements | MT Zafirah hijacking MT Orkim Harmony hijacking |
Decorations | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Website | canhsatbien.vn |
Commanders | |
Commander | Major General Nguyễn Quang Đạm |
Political Commissar | Lieutenant General Hoàng Văn Đồng |
Chief of Staff | Major General Ngô Ngọc Thu |
Insignia | |
Racing Stripe | ![]() |
Emblem | |
Awards | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Patrol | 3 x CASA C-212 Aviocar - Series 400 2 x Sikorsky S-92 |
Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG; Vietnamese: Cảnh sát biển Việt Nam) is the coast guard of Vietnam. It is a branch of the Vietnam People's Army, and falls under the management of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence. Since its creation in the late 1990s, the Vietnam Coast Guard plays an important role in maintaining sea security and protection of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundary. It has dispatched forces in waters in overlapping areas between Vietnam and foreign countries, providing protection and assistance to local fishermen when necessary. In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard perform search and rescue duties, along with their duties of combating and preventing smuggling, piracy, and trade fraud in Vietnamese waters.
Contents
Origins
The Vietnam Coast Guard was first set up through President Tran Duc Luong's order No 3-L/CTN (7 April 1998), announcing the Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard, which had been accepted by The Tenth National Assembly of Vietnam on 28 March 1998.[2]
Previously, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam did not have a dedicated Coast Guard; the Navy had been used for offshore patrol and related military activity, along with the Border Patrol Directorate (Bộ Tư Lệnh Biên Phòng), which had checkpoints in estuarine and littoral areas. These bodies were equipped with small boats for short pursuit and related equipment intended for short-term security applications. All river patrol responsibility belongs to the Fluvial Police (Cục Cảnh sát giao thông đường thủy - Bureau code:C25), supervised by provincial and/or local police office (Ministry of Public Safety - Bộ Công An), and sometimes to the Vietnam Customs (Hải Quan), depending on the particular geographical responsibility (fluvial or fresh water only).
The Vietnam Coast Guard became independent from the Vietnam People's Navy on 1 March 2008. It has in-scope intelligence based on international exchange and co-operation with its ASEAN counterparts in smuggling and on-sea drug interdiction operations. As an organisation established to fight against illegal trafficking, it was keen to start with a fresh image, equipped with adequate technology and hardware, to deploy efficiently for its various specific missions. The current organisational pattern will serve as a role model for future extended projects.
Goals
- Develop and maintain operational capability to ensure national maritime sovereignty.
- Be recognised by the nation as the guardian of maritime security.
- Become the foremost maritime security agency in South East Asia.
- Develop and improve the ability to respond to maritime search and rescue requirements throughout the area of responsibility.
- Develop and improve the ability to preserve and protect the maritime environment.
- Continually improve the organisation and operation of the agency.
Mission
In the internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam, Vietnam Coast Guard have mission to patrol and control in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and international treaties concerned that, Vietnam is a contracting member (such as The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)) to protect the sovereignty, jurisdiction, protection of natural resources, prevention of environmental pollution; detect, prevent and combating acts of smuggling, piracy, armed robbery against ships, illegal transport and trafficking, transporting illegal narcotics, precursors.
Vietnam Coast Guard is responsible in co-operating with functional agencies to do the mission. If any incident happens at sea, Vietnam Coast Guard have responsibility to inform to the functional agencies and co-ordinate with foreign countries to settle the issue. Lt. General Phạm Đức Lĩnh said in The 7th Heads of Asia Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM - 7) on July 2011: "Vietnam Coast Guard used in overlapping sea areas between Vietnam and foreign countries. Local fishermen will be better protected and assisted if necessary, and remind local fishermen not to cross into the waters of foreign countries."[3] In October 2013 the VMP were transferred from the navy to the coast guard, apparently so as to qualify for Japanese equipment aid.[4]
The Vietnam Coast Guard is responsible for protecting the security of Vietnam's coast line and deals with problems like:
- Drug smuggling
- Human trafficking
- Counter Terrorism
- Industrial radioactive and toxic waste dumping
- Marine Environmental Protection
- Surveillance of Illegal Operations by Foreign Fishing Vessels
- Vietnam maritime law enforcement
- Marine assistance
- International Affairs
- Search and rescue (SAR)
- National defence - alongside the Vietnam People's Navy[2]
In addition to its role, the Vietnam Coast Guard has moved their headquarters from Hai Phong to Hanoi in February 2008, due to current needs to address these tasks. Current headquarters are located at 94 Le Loi Street, Nguyen Trai ward, Ha Dong district, Ha Noi. Their training base and logistic support facilities remain in Hai Phong.
Establishment
Organisational system
1. Coast Guard Command[5]
2. Units in Coast Guard Department:
- Regional Coast Guard: similar with Regional Navy. In the structure of Regional Navy have fleets, flotillas and Marine police teams;
- Coast Guard fleets;
- No.1 and No.2 Reconnaissance base;
- No.1,2,3, and 4 Anti-drugs, Anti-crime Task base;
- Center of Coast Guard Information;
- Center of Coast Guard Training.
Regional Coast Guard
- 1st Regional Coast Guard: managed from Ka Long River, Quang Ninh Province to Con Co island, Quang Tri Province. Based in Hai Phong;
- 2nd Regional Coast Guard: managed from Con Co island, Quang Tri to Xanh islet, Binh Dinh Province and South China Sea. Based in Quang Nam Province;
- 3rd Regional Coast Guard: managed from Xanh islet, Binh Dinh to Dinh An harbour, Tra Vinh Province and South China Sea. Based in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province;
- 4th Regional Coast Guard: managed from Dinh An harbour, Tra Vinh to Ha Tien, Kien Giang Province and the Gulf of Thailand. Based in Ca Mau.
International co-operation
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Vietnam Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard have signed an agreement to set up hotline in principle. In the near future, both will draft detailed regulations on co-ordination, so that when a situation at sea will settle in time.[6]
On 14 July 2012, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Kōichirō Genba and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting in Hanoi. Japan Coast Guard is willing to help Vietnam bolster its coastal patrol capabilities, include set up such an institution and train its personnel.[7]
Vietnam Coast Guard would be equipped with modern facilities to carry out effectively their tasks to maintain security, order and safety in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with the close co-operation with regional coast guards of regional countries.[8]
That's the reason why Vietnam Coast Guard need to strengthened confidence building, mutual understanding between members, promote practical co-operation and efficiency among countries in Southeast Asia and in the world. To solved issues such as piracy, smuggling, trade fraud and transportation of persons, illegal drugs, disaster search and rescue, disaster,... Vietnam Coast Guard's in collaboration with some countries for networking exercises of information processing, situation, to forwards to exercise with soldiers on sea in some situations, such as anti-piracy, search and rescue, environmental response to incidents,...
Development
To create a breakthrough development for Vietnam Coast Guard, a contract signed between Vietnam and United States that United States Coast Guard helped train Vietnam Coast Guard from 2009. The United States Coast Guard kicked off its partnership program with the Vietnam Coast Guard under the Export Control and Related Border Security program by conducting two sessions of the Maritime Law Enforcement Boarding Officer course in Hai Phong and Phu Quoc, 12–23 October 2009. This was the first United States Coast Guard engagement with the Vietnam Coast Guard under their new partnership program. Its positive results bode well for future co-operation between the two forces. The training courses received a great deal of attention from the Vietnam Coast Guard leadership, as well as the Ministry of Defence (Vietnam), with senior representatives from MOD both attending the opening and closing ceremonies, and hosting farewell lunches and dinners. The Vietnam Coast Guard leadership's recommendations for future training will not only be very useful for planning purposes, but represent clear signals that they are eager for further co-operation. Continuing the partnership plan, the United States Coast Guard has invited one VMP officer to attend the 15-week International Maritime Officer Course starting in March 2010 at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia.[9]
Besides vessels are equipped with self-building, Vietnam Coast Guard also cooperated with Damen Group to build large vessels with Netherlands's license, will being built in Vietnam by Song Thu company, 189 company,... Vessels have completed such as one Offshore patrol vessel 9014, one hydrographic survey vessel 6613, four Salvage tugs 6412,...[10]
Later on in 2008, Vietnam Coast Guard received three ocean sentry turboprop aeroplanes CASA C-212 Aviocar - Series 400 equipped with MSS 6000 systems from the Swedish Space Corporation.[11]
Vietnamese Government has planned to invest in upgrading facilities for the force including modern ships which can operate in bad weather and stay long at sea. Furthermore, the force is also equipped with helicopters to enhance its operations at the border of continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam to protect the territorial waters and fishermen as well. In particular, on Vietnamese sea, adjacent waters boundary waters disputes over sovereignty, there must be always the presence of Vietnam Coast Guard.[6][8]
Equipment
Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels are equipped with specialised functions (almost all Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels are self-produced):
- To coastal patrol and protection, including vessels from 120 to 400 tons, have very high speed, armed with powerful weapons, numbered beginning with 00.., 20 .., 30 .., 40 .., 50 ..;
- To support, search and rescue, including vessels from 1.000 to 2.000 tons, numbered beginning with 600..;
- To offshore patrol, including vessels over 2.500 tons with helicopter on deck, numbered beginning with 800..;
- To Search and rescue, vessels have named beginning SAR or 900...
Almost Vietnam Coast Guard's vessels named CSB (abbreviated by Vietnamese words: Cảnh Sát Biển - Coast Guard).
Ships (49 in service) | ||||||
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Photo | Type | Builder | Role | Quantity | Name | |
Shershen class 148 tons |
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Patrol | 4 | CSB-5011, CSB-5012, CSB-5013, CSB-5014 | ||
TT-120 120 tons |
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Patrol | 5 | CSB 001,CSB-1011,CSB 1012, CSB 1013, CSB 1014 | ||
TT-200 200 tons |
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Patrol | 10 | CSB-2001, CSB-2002, CSB-2003, CSB-2004, CSB-2005, CSB-2006, CSB-2007, CSB-2008, CSB-2009, CSB-2010 | ||
TT-400 400 tons |
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Patrol | 5 (3 more on order) | CSB-4031, CSB-4032, CSB-4033, CSB-4034, CSB-4035 | ||
TS-500CV 398 tons |
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Patrol/Search and rescue | 1 | CSB-6008 | ||
Offshore patrol vessel 1200 tons |
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Patrol/Search and rescue | 2 | CSB-6006, CSB-6007 | ||
DN 2000 (Damen 9014 class) 2500 tons |
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Patrol | 3 (6 more on order) | CSB-8001, CSB-8002, CSB-8005 | ||
Offshore patrol 1500 tons |
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Patrol | 1 | CSB-8003 | ||
Patrol boat 280 tons |
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Patrol | 2 | CSB-2015, CSB-2016 | ||
Damen Salvage tug 1400 tons |
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Search and rescue | 5 | CSB-9001, CSB-9002, CSB-9003, CSB-9004, CSB-9005 | ||
Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel | ![]() |
Search and rescue | 3 | SAR-411, SAR-412, SAR-413 | ||
Aircraft (5 in service) | ||||||
Photo | Type | Builder | Role | Quantity | Name | |
CASA C-212 Aviocar series 400 | ![]() |
Patrol | 3[12] | 8981, 8982, 8983 | ||
Sikorsky S-92 | ![]() |
Patrol | 2 | 8984, 8985 |
Table of Ranks
Unlike the Vietnam People's Navy the Coast Guard does not uses sleeve and cuff officer rank insignia.
Flag Officers | Field Grade Officers | Company Grade Officers | |||||||||
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Thượng tướng | Trung tướng | Thiếu tướng | Đại tá | Thượng tá | Trung tá | Thiếu tá | Đại úy | Thượng úy | Trung úy | Thiếu úy | |
Colonel General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Senior Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant | Ensign |
Officer cadet | NCOs | Seamen | ||||
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Học viên Sĩ quan | Thượng sĩ | Trung sĩ | Hạ sĩ | Binh nhất | Binh nhì | |
Officer Cadet | Sergeant Major | Sergeant | Corporal | Seaman First Class | Seaman |
See also
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China Coast Guard | Taiwan Coast Guard | ![]() |
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Philippine Coast Guard | |||
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Royal Cambodian Navy | Malaysia Coast Guard |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://thuytinhvo.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/japan-supports-vietnam-coastal-defense-nhk/
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://stopwapenhandel.org/node/1138
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2013/01/vietnam-takes-delivery-of-third-c212-400.html
External links
- Official website (Vietnamese)