Cyprus Port and Marine Police
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The Cyprus Port & Marine Police ( el, Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία, tr, Liman ve Deniz Polisi) is the
marine police Water police, also called harbor patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables, river police, or maritime law enforcement or coastal police are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organizat ...
and the civilian
Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...
wing of the
Cyprus Police The Cyprus Police (Greek: ), is the National Police Service of the Republic of Cyprus and is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993. The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus Police are set out in the amended Police Law ( ...
, and are tasked with the primary mission of
law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. The term en ...
of the waters around, and control of the sea borders of the
Republic of Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
. Main roles are reported to include law enforcement of illicit activities such as
smuggling Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations. There are various ...
,
terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
,
piracy Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...
and
illegal fishing Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries. Illegal fishing takes pl ...
. The Cyprus Port and Marine Police also serve a role as a
search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
(SAR) force. This force is equipped with patrol boats and radars. Cyprus Marine Police boats are notable by the "PV-" (Patrol Vessel) and "PL-" (Patrol Launch) prefixes on their pennant numbers, painted on the side of the hull.


History

In 1956 a special committee, set up by the then British Colonial Government for the re-organisation of Cyprus Police, included in its report a proposal for the establishment of a Port and Marine Police in Cyprus. The new Service was set up the following year equipped with seven boats. It operated as an independent Police Division with its headquarters at
Famagusta Famagusta ( , ; el, Αμμόχωστος, Ammóchostos, ; tr, Gazimağusa or ) is a city on the east coast of Geography of Cyprus, Cyprus. It is located east of Nicosia District, Nicosia and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. Duri ...
and 2 permanent stations in
Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
and
Larnaca Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 144 ...
. It also had a sub-station in
Kyrenia Kyrenia ( el, Κερύνεια ; tr, Girne ) is a city on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. It is under the ''de facto'' control of Northern Cyprus. While there is evidence showing that the wider region ...
which operated during the summer. In 1960, with the establishment of the independent Republic of Cyprus, the Port and Marine Police became a branch of the Police and the Gendarmerie. The Turkish invasion of 1974 was a great blow for the Port and Marine Police as its installations at Famagusta Port were destroyed and five out of its seven boats were seized by the
Turkish Army The Turkish Land Forces ( tr, Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), or Turkish Army (Turkish: ), is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the ...
. After this great loss it continued to operate but only with two boats at its stations in Larnaca and Limassol. Its headquarters were transferred from Famagusta to the old port of Limassol.


Developments since 1974

In 1981-83, two Plascoa launches were acquired from
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, equipped with 1 20mm Oerlikon L70 cannon, one 12.7mm and two 7.62mm machine guns. One of them was deleted from the service in 1991, another in 2000-2004. In 1986, six local build Astrapi V (Fletcher Malibu) small Speed Boats. Later (circa 2004-2006) replaced by NOVAMARINE R.I.B. boats. In 1991, two FAC-23 patrol vessels were acquired from
Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 7.62mm machine guns,The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems By Eric Wertheim Published by Naval Institute Press, 2007 , later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns. In 1992, five SAB-12 launches were transferred from
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
to
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
, without armament. In 1998, a single Shaldag patrol vessel was acquired from
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns, later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns. In 2004, Cyprus took delivery of two FPB 30M (P-190) class patrol vessels from Cantierre Navale Vittoria. These were initially equipped with 1 12.7 mm and 2 7.62mm machine guns (on the
forecastle The forecastle ( ; contracted as fo'c'sle or fo'c's'le) is the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or, historically, the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters. Related to the latter meaning is the phrase " be ...
, later also replaced with 12.7 mm machine guns). In 2010, according to local press, Port and Marine Police fleet planning to receive 2 more patrol boats (Length - approx. 15-16 meter, Width - 4–5 meters, Speed - not less than 43 knots). In 2013, according to local press,Cyprus Mail Website the Port and Marine Police acquired two new police boats, that were purchased from Greece, as part of the cross-border cooperation program between the two countries. The two boats were purchased for €60m and are equipped with portable thermal scopes and other sophisticated equipment to combat various forms of organised cross-border crime such as illegal immigration and the smuggling of drugs and weapons in the area. The €48m of the total cost of the program has been funded by the EU.


Administration

Headquartered in Limassol the Port and Marine Police is administered by its Commander and Assistant Commanders. The Commander has both administrative and operational responsibility and is accountable to the Chief of Police through the Assistant Chief of Support. The Port and Marine Police includes the following offices: Message Control Centre, Registry, Stores, Accounts Office, Security Office and Operations Office.


Stations

The Port and Marine Police is made up of the following stations: * Latsi Port and Marine Station * Paphos Port and Marine Station * Limassol New Port Station * Limassol Marine Station * Ayios Raphael Marina Port Station * Larnaca Port and Marine Station * Larnaca Marina Port Station * Ayia Napa Marine Station * Paralimni Marine Station


Fleet since 1980

The Port and Marine Police Fleet at present is made up of 16 boats which can be divided into three categories according to their size, construction, capability and mission. The three categories are: ;Category A: Includes five fast sea patrol boats (F.P.B – JET) which can operate within a large radius – contiguous zone and open sea. ;Category B: Includes five patrol boats (SAB – 12) which can operate within a medium-range radius – within territorial waters. ;Category C: Includes six small inflatable speed boats (R.I.B./SP7) – mostly used close to shore.


See also

*
Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center The Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center or JRCC Larnaca (Greek: ) is an independent agency of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus and its primary mission is to organize the Cyprus Republic Search and Rescue (SAR) system, to co ...
*
Cyprus Navy The Cyprus Naval Command ( el, Ναυτική Διοίκηση Κύπρου, tr, Kıbrıs Deniz Kuvvetleri) (also known as the Cyprus Navy or Cypriot Navy) is the armed sea wing of the Cyprus National Guard. The Cypriot Navy has the primary m ...
*
Cyprus Police The Cyprus Police (Greek: ), is the National Police Service of the Republic of Cyprus and is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993. The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus Police are set out in the amended Police Law ( ...
*
Cyprus Police Aviation Unit The Cyprus Police Aviation Unit (CPAU) ( el, Μονάδα Αεροπορικών Επιχειρήσεων (Μ.Α.ΕΠ.), is the police aviation unit of the Headquarters of Cyprus Police, the national police of the Republic of Cyprus and was estab ...
*
Cyprus Police Museum The Cyprus Police Museum is a museum in Cyprus, dedicated to the history of law enforcement in the country. It is owned by the Cyprus Police and managed by Department A' of the Police Headquarters. The Police Museum is open to the public from Mon ...


References


External links


Cyprus National Guard Official website (Navy section)

Cyprus Border Marine Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cyprus Port And Marine Police Coast guards 1960 establishments in Cyprus Specialist law enforcement agencies of Cyprus Government agencies established in 1960 Maritime law enforcement agencies ru:Военно-морские силы и Морская полиция Кипра