The Yemeni Coast Guard is the coast guard service of Yemen and was founded in 2003. It has constabulary and navigation role in Yemen's ports and regional waters,[1] as the country has 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of coastline. Since the start of the Yemeni civil war in 2015, the Coast Guard functions under the internationally recognised government backed by the Saudi Arabian-led coalition. Several ports and coastal facilities in areas controlled by the Saudi-backed government of Yemen are under the authority of the Yemeni Coast Guard, which has its headquarters in Mukalla.[2]
Role and organisation
The Coast Guard's duties include anti-piracy, countering illegal immigration, countering smuggling, and maritime patrol.[1][3]
The Yemen Post reports that Yemeni Coast Guard forces have engaged in combat with corrupt elements of other Yemeni security organs.[4] According to the Wall Street Journal shipping firms can hire US trained Yemeni Coast Guard personnel to help guard their vessels during their transit of Yemeni waters.[5]
Since the start of the Saudi intervention in Yemen in 2015, the Coast Guard has cooperated with the naval forces section of the Joint Forces Command. The Coast Guard's area of responsibility is divided into sectors based on the country's governorates.[2]
Some of its fleet were formerly United States Coast Guard vessels, or were built to the same design as USCG vessels.[7] Since 2015, the Coast Guard also includes boats and equipment provided by Saudi Arabia, which gave Yemen 37 boats.[2]
Incidents
On 13 March 2017, two people were killed when a Coast Guard ship was struck by a mine that was left by Houthi forces.[8]
Gallery
A pair of 44-foot Motor Life Boats (MILB) during a commissioning ceremony for the Yemen Coast Guard after being transferred from the US Coast Guard
Yemeni Coast Guard sailor in 2004
Yemen Coast Guard patrol boat Sana'a and USS Dewey transit the Red Sea in 2014
Patrol boat Aden
Members of the Yemen Coast Guard conduct a simulated vessel boarding aboard U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Robert Goldman, March 2023
^ ab"Interviews: Commander of Yemeni Coast Guard Forces Ali Ahmed Ras'ee". Yemen Post. 2009-02-09. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2011-12-04. The tasks of coastguard forces are stipulated in the establishment decree, and these tasks are varied. The coastguard forces have security and not military functions, including keeping order in Yemeni ports and launching patrols in Yemeni coasts and regional waters. Other tasks are limiting illegal immigration, protecting national waters against indiscriminate fishing, protecting environment against pollution, fighting piracy, rescue and search activities.
^"Yemen Coastguard foils piracy attempt on oil tanker". Maritime Security. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2011-12-04. A coastal defense commander told reporters that a naval force patrol had detected the attempt on Tuesday and intervened to prevent the hijacking. The oil tanker continued on its way to the Port of Aden, he said.
^"Coastguard says Border Security Aiding Smugglers". Yemen Post. 2010-04-10. Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2011-12-04. Clashes erupted Wednesday between coastguards and border security forces in Hudaida province when coastguards searched boats suspected of carrying smuggled goods. Local sources said the confrontations started when border security forces prevented coastguards from doing their job to inspect suspected fishing boats, adding such clashes between the forces are not new.
^Margaret Coker (2011-01-04). "U.S. Military Aid Is Available for Hire in Yemen". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-12-04. The Yemeni Coast Guard, working through private companies, is renting out servicemen and patrol boats—including vessels given to Yemen by the U.S.—for commercial ships seeking armed escorts against piracy.
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