Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

, the coast guard role is performed by several government agencies that, together, form the Maritime Authority System (, SAM). The SAM includes the

Portuguese Navy The Portuguese Navy (), also known as the Portuguese War Navy (''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'') or as the Portuguese Armada (''Armada Portuguesa''), is the navy of the Portuguese Armed Forces. Chartered in 1317 by King Dinis of Portugal, it is ...

, the National Republican Guard (GNR), the

Portuguese Air Force The Portuguese Air Force () is the air force, aerial warfare force of Portugal. Locally it is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF. It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese ...

, the Civil Protection Authority, the National Medical Emergency Institute and the Criminal Investigation Police (PJ). The National Maritime Authority () or AMN is the service responsible for coast guard duties within Portugal. Until 2014 the AMN had been a directly reporting agency of the Navy until it was separated that year, although the Navy still provides its personnel and vessels. The function of AMN is performed by the Chief of Staff of the Navy himself, supported in this role by the Directorate of the Maritime Authority, which includes the Maritime Police, the Lifeguard Institute, the Lighthouse Department and the several harbourmasters. Besides the specific assets of the Directorate of Maritime Authority entirely dedicated to the coast guard role, the AMN also has at its disposal the other Portuguese Navy's assets that can be used both for military and public service missions. The vessels operated within the SAM include the Maritime Police patrol boats, the Lifeguard Institute lifeboats, the harbourmasters’ harbour boats, the GNR Coastal Control Unit's surveillance boats and the Portuguese Navy's naval ships. The aircraft operated within the SAM include fixed-wing aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force and helicopters from the Navy and Air Force.

Vessels

In addition to the vessels in the list below, all the Portuguese Navy ships also belong to the Maritime Authority System.

References

{{Reflist Coast guards Government of Portugal Law enforcement in Portugal Maritime law enforcement agencies