Commissioning ceremony of two CNV P355 patrol vessels in the Coast Guard fleet – Photos & VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 17/04/2021 at 11:45

On April 15, 2021, the commissioning ceremony of the two newly-built vessels of the Port Corps-Hellenic Coast Guard took place in the presence of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. 

The patrol boats HCG (Hellenic Coast Guard) 900 and HCG 910 received last December are two of the four P355 Coastal Patrol Vessels made by the Italian Cantiere Navale Vittoria S.P.A and are expected to be received by the end of 2021. 

The funding was part of the FRONTEX Special Equipment Action of the Internal Security Fund, with 90% Participation and 10% National Participation.

Technical Characteristics 

• Overall Length: 38.60 meters
• Overall Beam: 7.45 meters
• Maximum Speed: Over 35 knots
• Service Speed: Over 32 knots
• Maximum range with cruising speed: over 1,000 nm 
• Operational Capacity (Douglas Sea State): Scale 5
• Number of Passengers: 32 people (12 crew members + 20 passengers / rescued)
• Propulsion: Two (2) modern naval engines
• Fuel: Navy type Diesel
• Armament: Two (2) 12.7mm Elbit remote-controlled weapon stations (RCWS)

The specifications of the vessels were prepared by officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard so as to fully cover the operational needs of the Agency.

Also read: Two state-of-the-art new patrol boats join the Hellenic Coast Guard – Photos & VIDEO

These boats have modern mechanical and marine equipment, state-of-the-art surveillance gear, as well as a 7.5 meters long speedboat (Tender) capable of reaching a speed over 40 knots. The speedboat also has an autonomy of 100 nautical miles and it is capable of carrying eight people.

Furthermore, each boat can accommodate in a specially-designed space 20 people and two stretchers for the transport of patients – injured.

In his speech, the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Giannis Plakiotakis stated that the two new boats are named after two heroes of the Coast Guard, who fell on the front line for Greece. Lieutenant Commander Georgios Kotoulas, who was executed in 1942 by the German occupation authorities, and Port Guard Marinos Zampatis, who fell in 1997, in a battle with smugglers who were trying to violate the borders of Greece. 

Also read: Another two state-of-the-art high-speed patrol boats join the Hellenic Coast Guard

“As a practical proof of the honor we owe to Marinos Zampatis, I, today, 24 years later, am pleased to announce that we have promoted the necessary actions to award him the rank of Lieutenant Commander of the Coast Guard-Hellenic Coast Guard.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his speech, stated – inter alia – that the acquisition of four large patrol this year, the cost of which exceeds EUR 55 million, is only one aspect of the broader aid project and upgrading of the technical infrastructure of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard, program which is a constant priority for the government and has a budget of more than 600 million euros.

 

“By the end of the year, two more multipurpose boats will have joined, with their own floating helipads. But also many new speedboats of 16 and 13 meters. While, of course, the tender for the Integrated Maritime Surveillance System is evolving, as well as the operational upgrade of all operational means. A very important program. “The most important program of the last decades in terms of the renewal of the equipment of the Coast Guard,” said the Prime Minister.

Also read: INTRACOM DEFENSE | Completion of Maritime Surveillance Program for the Hellenic Navy