Antigua & Barbuda Coast Guard
Many agencies and departments that are involved with maritime security and the protection of the Country’s marine resources have a law enforcement arm within their organization. However, the ABDF Coast Guard is currently the only government agency, although limited, with maritime assets and resources, to include appropriately trained personnel, to patrol Antigua and Barbuda’s marine zones in an effort to preserve and protect the Country’s interest. The Defence Act 2006 is the primary legal instrument that gives the ABDF Coast Guard its authority to enforce all laws applicable to Antigua and Barbuda within the marine area. However, the Unit works closely with the various stakeholders to effectively carry out its mandate that is primarily embedded in the areas of Maritime Safety and Law Enforcement. The effectiveness to this cooperation is based on the common goal which is to realise the most efficient maritime security regime.
Initially known as Antigua and Barbuda Police Marine Unit, the unit was later transferred to the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force 1 May 1995 and renamed ABDF Coast Guard. Organic assets include a pair of Defender class 33 foot speedboats [CG D7 and D8], and a single Zodiac Hurricane H920 30 foot speedboat [CG 091].
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard with the support of local and regional agencies and government departments continue to consider itself one of the main custodians of Antigua and Barbuda’s marine interests. Through Antigua and Barbuda’s Maritime Areas Act and as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS), Antigua and Barbuda’s marine area is divided into Internal Waters, Archipelagic Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). From the archipelagic baseline, Antigua and Barbuda declared twelve and two hundred nautical miles as its Territorial Sea and EEZ, respectively. Both the Territorial Sea and the EEZ represent a total of 110 004 kilometre square of Antigua and Barbuda’s marine area which is more than 200 times the country’s land space.
Currently, Antigua and Barbuda utilizes this space for tourism, shipping, and fishing. Tourism is Antigua and Barbuda’s number one industry providing approximately 70% of the country’s economic activities. There is a strong interrelationship between tourism and shipping and the viability of both industries requires the support of each other. Similarly, fishing is important to Antigua and Barbuda as the industry employs about 2% of the Country’s workforce and provides one of the main sources of protein for many Antiguans and Barbudans. A depletion of Antigua and Barbuda’s fishery resources could present both economic and social implications if the country’s food security diminishes.
Maritime Law Enforcement is another dimension of maritime security that has to be addressed to prevent the misuse of Antigua and Barbuda’s marine interest. Antigua and Barbuda, like other countries within the Caribbean, is considered to be a transhipment point for drug traffickers moving narcotics mainly between South America and the larger markets of North American and Europe. In the five years 2006-2011, the Coast Guard, with the supported by the Office of National Drugs and Control Policy (ONDCP), was successful in intercepting a number of vessels with large shipments.
In addition to narcotics trafficking, the smuggling of goods is another law enforcement threat. The smuggling route is usually between St Maarten and Antigua and many small boat operators travel to St Maarten, purchase relatively cheap goods, and try to evade customs tariffs and duties by attempting to land their goods illegally. Illegal fishing is another counterproductive practice that needs to be addressed with equal importance. The local fishing fleet have to be policed to ensure that they are operating in accordance with the Fisheries Regulations, and preventing foreign fishermen from fishing illegally in Antigua and Barbuda’s EEZ is another law enforcement challenge that requires a serious response.
The ABDF Coast Guard is a very dynamic Unit. The roles and functions of the Unit have labeled the unit as the most operational in the force. Therefore, the composition if the unit has been developed in such a way to facilitate and ensure that the Unit effectively fulfill its missions.
Operations Department: This department manages the Boat Crews and the Coast Guard’s Operations Center. The crews are comprised of both small boat and cutter size vessels that operate within the maritime zones of Antigua and Barbuda. However, there are occasions when Cutters have to be deployed overseas in support of the Regional Security System (RSS) missions and CARICOM by extension. In support of Coast Guard’s assets when they are at sea if the Unit’s operations center that manned on a 24/7 basis where is also keep watch on various maritime related emergency channels.
Administration Department: The management of the Unit’s Registry, Stores and catering are the main responsibilities of this department. The department is responsible for the management of outgoing and incoming correspondences which entail logging, disseminating, and filing communiqué in accordance with acceptable Force and Unit standards. Its responsibilities also involve procurement and other logistic requirement pertaining to the Unit. Further, the Administrative Department is responsible for providing the Coast Guard with three square meals on a daily basis.
Engineering Department: This department is the technical arm of the unit. It is primarily comprised of individuals who are trained in diesel and outboard engines engineering. As a result of the smallness of the Unit, the Coast Guard has found it necessary to cross train its personnel in other technical areas such as welding, electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration, and shipwright. As a result, the department is adequately equipped to maintain the Coast Guard’s vessels through a stringent maintenance programme. Training: The Training Department is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that Coast Guard personnel are adequately trained and prepared for the duties that they are expected to perform. As a result, the department on an annual basis process individuals to attend various courses that are sourced locally, regionally and internationally. It also hosts a number of in-house training initiatives on a regular basis to maintain currency of individuals in their respective skill sets.
Regulating Department: The Regulating Department is the Coast Guard’s hub for the maintenance of discipline and professionalism at the highest level in accordance with the Commanding Officer’s intent. This department is also responsible for the security of bases and the promulgation of duties and other daily orders.
Reserves: The Coast Guard Reserves are instrumental in supporting the Coast Guard from time to time especially during the periods when the Unit’s operational demand is high. As such, the Reserves are broken down into both seagoing and non-seagoing elements to the Coast Guard to be optimally efficient in the execution of its missions.
ABDF Coast Guard Base that is located at Deepwater Harbour is the Coast Guard’s main facility. It houses the Unit’s Headquarters and provides accommodation for a significant number of Coast Guard personnel. The Boathouse accommodated the Coast Guard’s engineering department where they operate a workshop where all major vessel repairs are carried out. Coast Guard Station English Harbour is located on the South Coast at English Harbour and it is strategically located to provide much needed coverage to the South Course particularly as it relates to safety and security to the yachting sector and other users of the sea operating in that area.
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