Thoroughly understand the strength of the Vietnam Coast Guard

The Vietnam Coast Guard was established on August 28, 1998, with the main task of protecting and maintaining security in Vietnam's sea areas and continental shelf.

The Vietnam Coast Guard is under the direction of the President, the management of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Defense is the direct management, organization and coordination agency. Since its establishment, the Vietnam Coast Guard has continuously improved its organization and staff, making efforts to improve the scope and effectiveness of law enforcement.

Patrol boat 8004. Photo: Canhsatbien

Currently, the Vietnam Coast Guard Command is composed of the following affiliated units: Coast Guard Region Command; Information Center; Training Center; Reconnaissance Groups No. 1 and No. 2; Drug Crime Prevention and Control Groups No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4; and Naval Squadrons. In which, the Vietnam Coast Guard is currently assigned to manage 4 Coast Guard Regions.

Vietnam's current four coast guard regions include: Region 1 is responsible for managing the area from Bac Luan River mouth to Con Co Island/Quang Tri, with headquarters located in Hai Phong; Region 2 is responsible for managing the area from Con Co Island/Quang Tri to Cu Lao Xanh/Binh Dinh, with headquarters located in Quang Nam; Region 3 is responsible for managing the area from Cu Lao Xanh/Binh Dinh to the northern bank of Dinh An estuary/Tra Vinh, with headquarters located in Ba Ria-Vung Tau; Region 4 is responsible for managing the area from the northern bank of Dinh An estuary/Tra Vinh to Ha Tien/Kien Giang, with headquarters located in Ca Mau.

Function and task

Pursuant to Vietnamese law and international treaties and conventions that Vietnam has signed, the Vietnam Coast Guard has the following functions and tasks:

+ Patrol, inspect, monitor, maintain and manage sovereignty;

+ Protecting marine resources and ecological environment, preventing marine environmental pollution;

+ Maintain order and maritime traffic; detect, combat and prevent crimes, illegal immigration, smuggling, etc.;

+ Attacks, piracy, human trafficking and other illegal acts... in the territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam.

Patrol boat 8001. Photo: Canhsatbien

In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard also has the task of coordinating with other competent agencies to conduct information; protect the property and legitimate lives of Vietnamese citizens; maintain legal activities, security, and safety of maritime traffic for Vietnamese and international ships in Vietnam's territorial waters and continental shelf; participate in handling incidents at sea, search and rescue; coordinate with other armed forces of Vietnam to protect islands and sea areas.

Main equipment of Vietnam Coast Guard

- Patrol boat

+ Currently, the Vietnam Coast Guard is equipped with 3 patrol boats with a displacement of 1,200 tons. These boats were built by Song Thu Shipbuilding Company, with serial numbers 6006, 6007 and 6008 respectively.

+ In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard also has 3 DN-2000 multi-purpose patrol boats, capable of patrolling in waters far from Vietnam's territorial waters. These are the largest patrol boats of the Vietnam Coast Guard, designed by the Dutch Shipbuilding Group and constructed by Vietnam's 189 Company.

These three ships are currently numbered 8001, 8002 and 8004, have a displacement of 2,500 tons, a crew of 70, the ability to travel continuously for 40 days, a maximum speed of 21 nautical miles/hour, an operating area of ​​5,000 nautical miles, and can withstand winds of level 12.

+ 4 ST4612 ships on rescue missions with serial numbers 9001, 9002, 9003 and 9004. This type of ship was also designed by the Dutch shipbuilding group Damen. The ship is 46m long, 5.5m wide, has a displacement of 1,400 tons, an engine capacity of 2.57Kw, a maximum speed of 12 nautical miles/hour, can withstand wind level 12, is equipped with 2 high-pressure 90mm water cannons with a range of 45m and can rotate 350 degrees. These ships are mainly responsible for handling oil spills, protecting the continental shelf survey fleet and preventing foreign fishing vessels from violating territorial waters.

+ A coastal patrol ship with registration number CSB 8003, this ship was originally a ship of the Korean Coast Guard transferred to Vietnam.

+ A ship converted from a fishing boat transferred by the Japanese Fisheries Agency on February 5, 2015. This is the first of three ships that Japan will transfer to Vietnam. These ships have a displacement of 650 tons, a total weight of 725 tons, and are capable of continuous travel of 2,800 nautical miles at a speed of 13 nautical miles/hour, equipped with 1 high-pressure water cannon and 1 high-power headlight.

+ 4 Ho Phong-class patrol boats, these are 206 torpedo boats manufactured by the Soviet Union and transferred to the Vietnam Navy (later transferred to the Coast Guard) with serial numbers 5011, 5012, 5013 and 5014 respectively.

Classification of ships of the Vietnam Coast Guard. Photo: Canhsatbien

The ship is 34.7m long, 6.7m wide, 1.5m draft, 148 tons standard displacement, 173 tons full load weight, uses 3 503A diesel engines with a total capacity of 5.9kw, maximum speed of 45 nautical miles/hour, continuous cruising capacity of 850 nautical miles at 30 nautical miles/hour, crew of 23 people. The ship is equipped with 30mm cannons and automatic machine guns.

+ 12 TT-120 high-speed boats of 200 tons. These are the boats manufactured by Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company under the General Department of Defense Industry of Vietnam. These boats have serial numbers CSB 001, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 3001, 3002, 3003, 3004, 3005, 3006 and 3007 respectively.

+ 13 TT-200 high-speed patrol boats, 200-ton class, these boats were designed by the Naval Technical Design Institute and manufactured by Hong Ha Company. The serial numbers are CSB 2001, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. These boats are capable of withstanding winds of level 7, 8, 9, and can travel continuously for 1,800 nautical miles.

+ 4 TT-400 high-speed patrol boats, 400-ton class, serial numbers CSB 4031, 4032, 4033 and 4034. Speed ​​34.5 nautical miles/hour, continuous journey 2,500 nautical miles, continuous operation time 30 days and is one of six important development items in the coming time of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

+ 3 patrol boats of class 4100 designed by the Dutch Shipbuilding Group, coded SAR 411, 412 and 413, with the main mission of search and rescue. These boats are 42.8m long, 6.8m wide, 2.5m draft, 206 tons displacement, using 2 3516B diesel engines with a total capacity of 4.18kw, maximum speed of 26 nautical miles/hour, continuous cruising capacity of 2,000 nautical miles at a speed of 12 nautical miles/hour, with a crew of 17 people (including 6 officers). The main weapons are 1 12.7mm machine gun, 1 Scout anti-ship radar system, 1 satellite navigation radar system, 1 high-pressure water cannon.

- Law enforcement aircraft

In addition to investing in building new law enforcement vessels, Vietnam is also focusing on investing in maritime law enforcement aircraft to improve its efficiency and law enforcement capacity.

In 2008, Vietnam signed a contract to purchase three CASA C-212-400 fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft from Spain. In addition, Vietnam also stepped up investment in building infrastructure to serve this force. In 2012-2013, these aircraft were transferred and officially put into operation, thereby enhancing the maritime law enforcement capacity of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Patrol aircraft 8982. Photo: Canhsatbien

The CASA C-212-400's main mission is to patrol and monitor the coast, prevent illegal foreign fishing vessels, combat smuggling, piracy and other illegal activities. In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard is also equipped with 1 EC-225 medium-lift helicopter manufactured by European Helicopters.

In the future, Vietnam will continue to promote investment in equipment for the coast guard force. In particular, Vietnam will make the most of ODA capital provided by the Japanese Government. In addition, Vietnam is planning to buy 10 M28 surveillance patrol aircraft from Poland to improve its coastal air patrol capacity. At the same time, Vietnam is also looking for options to buy helicopters to equip on large DN-2000 patrol ships.

According to Baodatviet