North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum - Belgium

Coast Guard Structure

Since July 8th 2005, the Belgian federal and Flemish regional government decided to lay down their mutual competences concerning the North Sea by means of an agreement of cooperation. This agreement entails the establishment of a structure Coast Guard which is responsible for the coordination and consultation between the 17 different federal and regional governmental departments.
 
The basic principles of this cooperation are: equality of all parties, mutual respect for legal competences and an optimum use of staff, infrastructure and means so as to avoid double investment costs. As a result, the efficiency of operations at sea will increase considerably and costs will be cut.

Coast Guard Centre

The Coast Guard Centre is made up of two 24/7 pillars complementing each other for maritime safety and security matters within the Belgian EEZ: the Ostend-based Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) and the Zeebrugge-based Maritime Security Centre (MIK).

The Coast Guard Centre’s operators ‘guard’ the sea, making use of radar images, sea charts, and hydrometeorological data. They can thus take measures so as to prevent accidents.
The MRCC, as a single point of contact for shipping in distress, offers its services to navigation and coordinates rescue operations at sea.

The MIK, with operators from defence, customs and federal maritime police, have access to the same radar images and to their specific data. These operators are responsible for maintaining law enforcement at sea.

The Coast Guard Centre, together with the vessels, helicopters and surveillance airplane of the different Coast Guard partners, can be seen as the eyes and ears on the North Sea.

An incident or disaster at sea

The Coast Guard partners are always ready to assist in case of an incident at sea. Incidents are communicated to the Coast Guard Centre via VHF channel 67 or the emergency number 0032 (0)59/70 10 00. MRCC Ostend dispatches rescue vessels.

When a major incident takes place, the governor of West-Flanders activates the North Sea Contingency Plan. Assisted by a crisis committee, he coordinates the emergency relief out of the MRCC’s incident room.

In the event of a disaster unfolding, the MRCC is directly connected to the Governmental Crisis Centre, the MIK and all flying and sailing units within the Belgian EEZ of the North Sea.

Contact

This coast guard structure with its operational and administrative bodies also includes a secretariat. This secretariat serves as the main contact for other coast guards or foreign bodies.

Secretariat Coast Guard
POC
Pascal Depoorter
Tel:  +32 59 255 471
Fax:  +32 59 255 479
E-mail: Depoorter.pascal@kwgc.be / info@kwgc.be

Website: www.kustwacht.be