North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum - Norway

The Norwegian Coast Guard

The Norwegian Coast Guard is fully integrated in the Norwegian Armed Forces as part of the Navy. The CG Act is the legal basis given by the Parliament and states the tasks for the CG. It also states the legal authority given to the servicemen in the CG when exercising CG functions.

The main tasks for the Norwegian CG are to exercise sovereignty and protect sovereign rights. Further to exercise authority related to the exploitation of the marine resources, and to conduct environmental response and SAR. Finally the CG also shall support or act on behalf of other governmental authorities and institutions in order to fulfill their responsibilities in the marine environment.

The Norwegian CG is the primary legal authority in fishery matters at sea. In all other matters related to the NACGF WGs, other institutions have the main responsibility, but the CG is a vital supportive tool on their behalf. Formal agreements have been established with these authorities and institutions.

This Norwegian model is also reflected in the WG participation:

• Maritime Security – Military Joint Headquarters (JHQ)
• Environmental Response – Coastal Administration

The groups that we have not attended so far are in Norway either a Police / Customs responsibility (ILM – ILD – SAR) or common military (Technical).

The area of responsibility reaches from 56 deg North and up to around 84 deg North, and includes about 2 million square kilometers or about seven times the area of Norway.

Especially in the northernmost parts of the area, the CG is the sole governmental responsive resource at sea, and is the representative authority for all other authorities with any kind of responsibility in the area.

The Norwegian CG has adopted a multi-role approach related to capacities in each vessel combined with multi role education and training of the crew. In addition we have to rely on other military resources as airplanes and picture compilation at the JHQ.

Head of the Norwegian delegation to the NACGF summit is Commandant Norwegian Coast Guard, Commodore Arild-Inge Skram.

For further information, contact:

POC NACGF:
Commander SG Ottar Haugen
Email: otthaugen@mil.no
Phone: +47 23097911
Mob: +47 95114239