The main activities of the Hellenic Coast Guard are defined in the present legislation and specified within its institutional framework of operation. These activities are the following: • Ensuring public order, including general policing and traffic policing. • Safeguarding of public and state security. •
Law enforcement at sea, ports and coastal areas.Maritime border control. Surveillance of the sea,
shipping, ports and borders.
Drug interdiction. •
Search and rescue (jointly with the
Hellenic Air Force and
Hellenic Navy). •
Safety of navigation (with the exception of
lighthouses,
racons and
buoys, which are constructed, purchased, installed and maintained by the Hellenic Navy Lighthouse Service). • Protection of the marine environment and response to
marine pollution incidents. • Provision of emergency maritime radio communication services. • Port operations (excluding port pilots service). • Merchant Ships and Shipping Companies inspection. • Representation of Greece in international organizations and the
European Commission in matters related to these roles. In order to perform these roles, the Coast Guard operate a number of
patrol boats of various sizes (6m to 60m) and different types (
RIBs, coastal patrol boats, offshore patrol boats,
lifeboats and
pollution control vessels). On land the Hellenic Coast Guard is equipped with 634 vehicles, including patrol vehicles, cars and motorcycles, buses and mini vans, trucks and tanker. The Coast Guard also operate seven airplanes and six helicopters. ==Organization==