Norwegian Coast Guard

Emblem of the Norwegian coast Guard

The Norwegian Coast Guard, or Kystvakten in Norwegian, is a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, but has separate vessels, many of which are purpose-built. All coast guard vessels have the prefix KV. Four of these vessels are capable of embarking one or more helicopters. Norway's exclusive economic zone, the Coast Guard's area of responsibility, is about 2.2 million square kilometers, the largest in Western Europe.

History

The Coast Guard was established 1 April 1977. However the functions of a coast guard had already been carried out by different organisations within the Royal Norwegian Navy. Of the earliest were groups of navy ships organized to prevent foreign ships from fishing in Norwegian territorial waters. The Coast Guard relieved the organisation named Det Regionale Sjømilitære Fiskerioppsyn.

Coast Guard units and vessels

* Coast Guard Squadron North
** Svalbard
** Nordkapp class
*** Andenes
*** Nordkapp
*** Senja
** Harstad
** Thorsteinson
** Sjøveien
** Nysleppen
** Barentshav
** Torsteinson
** Åhav
** Kongsøy
** Stålbas
* Coast Guard Squadron South
** Ålesund
** Eigun
** Lafjord
** Titran
** Garsøy
** Agder
** Tromsø
* Future Vessels
** 5 ST-610 patrol vessels ordered
** 1 new vessel to be named Barentshav ordered

External links

*Kystvakten - official web pages in english

*Kystvakten - official web pages

*Norwegian Coast Guard (english)
*Defenseindustrydaily: Norway's new OPV's