Difference between revisions 133487404 and 133487405 on dewiki

[[File:C-GRNN Coast Guard Caribbean.jpg|thumb|300px|A [[Dash 8]] of the Dutch Coast Guard]]
The '''Dutch Caribbean Coastguard''' ({{lang-nl|Kustwacht Caraïbisch Gebied}}) or '''KWCARIBDCCG''' is the [[coast guard]] of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] in the Caribbean.  The unit is a joint effort between all constituent countries within the Kingdom.<ref name=MinistryDefence>[http://www.defensie.nl/marine/kustwacht/kustwacht_caraibisch_gebied/ Kustwacht Caraïbisch Gebied]. Ministry of Defence official website (Royal Netherlands Navy section). Retrieved 2010-12-31.</ref>  Prior to the [[dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles]], it was known as the '''Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Coastguard''' (NA&A CG).

==Tasks==
* Detection and control: drugs,<ref name=MinistryDefence/> border control, customs control at sea, fisheries and environmental surveillance<ref name=MinistryDefence/> and monitoring of safe shipping.
* Services: continuous occupation and Rescue Coordination Center (RCC), handling of maritime distress and safety radio communications, search and rescue (SAR)<ref name=MinistryDefence/> and supporting maritime contingency.

==Organization==
KWCARIBDCCG is a partnership between [[Aruba]], [[Sint Maarten]], [[Curaçao]], and the [[Netherlands]]. The staff of the Coast Guard are composed of all constituent countries. KWCARIBDCCG is a kingdom organization directly under the State Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. The Commander of the Naval Forces of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] in the Caribbean (CZMCARIB) is also the commander of KWCARIBDCCG.<ref name=MinistryDefence/>

==Policy==
Ministries from the 4 parts of the kingdom determine the policy of the Coast Guard. To streamline policy formulationthe Coast Guard's Commission has been formed. This committee consists of officials from different ministries. The Coast Guard Commission also ensures budgets and annual reports. The judicial policy of the Coast Guard is determined by the 3 Ministers of Justice of the countries of the Kingdom. Controlling the Coastguard executive in judicial matters is done through the Procurators-General of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Secretary of Defense is on behalf of the State Ministers in charge of managing and controlling KWCARIBDCCG.

==Coast Guard support centers==
KWCARIBDCCG has 3 Coast Guard support centers: on [[Aruba]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten|St. Maarten]]. From here, the Coast Guard patrol boats patrol in the waters around the islands. The flying units of the Coast Guard are stationed at the [[Hato International Airport|Hato]] military airbase in Curaçao. The Coast Guard Center / RCC itself is located in Curaçao, the naval base Parera.

==Units==
KWCARIBDCCG has its own units and also makes use of defense resources (mainly from the RNLN, a ship and staff)  . KWCARIBDCCG has several private owned types of patrol boats,cutters and aircraft.

===Cutters===
The three Coast Guard cutters, the ''Jaguar'', the ''Panther'' and ''Puma'', are [[Damen]] built [[Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel|Stan Patrol 4100]]s.   They are designed for service in the inland waterways of the Caribbean islands. The cutters are suitable for carrying out all coast guard tasks. With the onboard [[Rigid-hulled inflatable boat|RHIB]], boarding operations can be performed. The cutter is over {{convert|41|m|ft}} long, has an crew of eleven and a speed exceeding {{convert|26|kn|km/h}}.

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Besides these functions, both MPA-D8 can be deployed before, during and after hurricane passages to move people and resources to those areas that need help. For these missions the D8
's will be converted into transport aircraft configurations.

===West Indies Guard Ship===
The so called ''West Indies Guard Ship'' (WIGS) is a ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy that rotates about every six months.  It is usually a [[frigate]] but it can also be another naval vessel. This vessel usually carries a [[Westland Lynx]] helicopter for SAR tasks and pursuit of suspect vessels.

(contracted; show full)[[Category:Sint Maarten|Coast]]
[[Category:Saint Eustatius|Coast]]
[[Category:Transport in the Netherlands|Coast]]
[[Category:Transport in the Caribbean|Coast]]
[[Category:Disaster preparedness in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Disaster preparedness in the Caribbean]]

[[nl:Kustwacht Caraïbisch Gebied]]