Cayman Islands Coast Guard
Cayman Islands Coast Guard Crest
Cayman Islands Coast Guard Crest
AbbreviationCICG
MottoTo Save Lives & Protect Our Boaders
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionCayman Islands
Constituting instrument
  • Cayman Islands Coast Guard Bill, 2021
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
Headquarters1101 Hirst Rd, Savannah, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Elected officers responsible
Agency executives
  • Robert Scotland, Commander[1]
  • Leo Anglin, Lieutenant Commander[1]

The Cayman Islands Coast Guard is the maritime security and search and rescue agency of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It was formed in late 2018 under the umbrella of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and was officially made as its own entity in 2021.[2]

History

Further information: Military history of the Cayman Islands

In 2018, the People's Progressive Movement-led coalition government pledged to form a Coast Guard to protect the interests of the Islands, especially in terms of illegal immigration and illegal drug importation as well as Search and Rescue.[3] In mid-2018, the commander and second-in-command of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard were appointed. The first commanding officer appointed was Commander Robert Scotland and the second-in-command appointed was Lieutenant Commander Leo Anglin.[4] In mid-2019, the commander and second-in-command took part in Operation Riptide, an international joint operation with the United States Coast Guard and the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard. This was the first deployment of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and the first counternarcotic deployment of a Cayman Islands representative on a foreign military ship in 10 years.[5][6]

In late November 2019, it was announced that the Cayman Islands Coast Guard would become operational in January 2020, with initial total of 21 Coast Guardsman, half of which would come from the joint marine unit, with further recruitment in the new year.[7]

The legislation to establish the Cayman Islands Coast Guard was gazetted in 2021,[1] after which the Cayman Islands Coast Guard officially became its own entity separate from the Cayman Islands Police Service.[2] Its first cohort of 16 recruits graduated in March 2021.[1][2]

Responsibilities

The Cayman Islands Coast Guard is responsible for maritime security, maritime enforcement of local laws and international laws in Cayman Islands waters, and compliance with conventions regarding safety at sea and pollution prevention.[1][2]

Structure

The Cayman Islands Coast Guard has two main operational departments:[8]

Within these two department are four main detachments:[8]

Commanding officers

As of September 2021, the commanding officer is Robert Scotland.[1]

Ranks

Ranks of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard are almost exactly the same as the ranks in the Royal Navy.[8]

Commissioned Officers
NATO Code OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF-1
Cayman Islands Coast Guard Epaulette Rank Insignia[9] 1 rows of 14mm lace with a row of 7mm lace below
Rank Title: Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Sub-Lieutenant
Abbreviation: Cdr Lt Cdr Lt Lt (JG) Sub Lt / SLt


Non-Commissioned Officers
NATO Code OR-9 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-2 OR-1 OR-0
Cayman Islands Coast Guard Rank Insignia[9] Blank Insignia No Insignia
Rank Title: Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Able Seaman Ordinary Rating Coast Guard Recruit
Abbreviation: WO CPO PO LS AB OS CGR

Aviation

The Cayman Islands Coast Guard currently relies on the expertise of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Air Operations Unit, for aerial search capabilities.

Type Tail No. Origin Aircraft Manufacture In service Notes
Aircraft
EC145 VP-CAO United States Airbus Helicopters, Inc. 2019-Current [10][11]
EC145 VP-CPS United States Airbus Helicopters, Inc. 2019-Current [10][12]
Two Cayman Islands Police Service H-145 Helicopters Tail numbers VP-CAO and VP-CPS

Vehicles

The Cayman Islands Coast Guard has a few land based vehicles, including SUVs and trucks.

Name Type Origin Manufacture In service Notes
Vehicles
Ford F550 Truck United States Ford Motor Company 2022-Current 2 in service[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bill will make Cayman Islands Coast Guard official". Cayman News Service. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Connolly, Norma (7 October 2021). "Coast Guard becomes official with passage of bill". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ^ Whittaker, James (29 August 2018). "Cayman's Coast Guard chiefs announced". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. ^ "CIG unveils new border control and coast guard leaders". Cayman Islands Headline News. 28 August 2018.
  5. ^ "CICG Deployed in International Joint Operation". Cayman Islands Government. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Cayman Islands Coast Guard deployed in International Joint Operation". 5 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Coastguard to manage Stingray City". Cayman Islands Headline News. 28 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Cayman Islands Coast Guard Act, 2021" (PDF). Cayman Islands Gazette. Legislature of the Cayman Islands. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "CAYMAN ISLANDS COAST GUARD ACT, 2021" (PDF).
  10. ^ a b "Early arrival for new police helicopter". Cayman Compass. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  11. ^ "VP-CAO N470AH Airbus Helicopters H145 / EC145T2 C/N 20182".
  12. ^ "VP-CPS N563AH Airbus Helicopters H145 / EC145T2 C/N 20241".
  13. ^ "Cayman Islands Coast Guard Takes Possession of Two New Ford F550 Vehicles, 29 April".
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