Liberian National Coast Guard Explained

Unit Name:Liberian National Coast Guard
Start Date:1959
Country: Liberia
Type:Coast guard
Battles:First Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
Anniversaries:February 11
Commander1:President Joseph Boakai
Commander1 Label:Commander-in-Chief
Commander2:Geraldine George
Commander2 Label:Minister of National Defense
Commander3:Major Theophilus Momo Duo
Commander3 Label:Commander of the Coast Guard
Identification Symbol Label:Naval Jack
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Ensign

The Liberian National Coast Guard is the naval force of Liberia, part of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Its main duties are law enforcement along Liberia's coast and in its maritime area, and aiding those in distress.[1]

History

The Liberian National Coast Guard, was established in 1959.[2] Throughout the Tubman period the coastguard was little more than a few sometimes unserviceable patrol craft manned by ill-trained personnel, though its training improved in the 1980s to the point where it was considered the best trained of the armed services.

In 1984 the Liberian National Coast Guard contained about 450 personnel.[3] Under Samuel Doe the Coast Guard was retitled the Liberian Navy in 1986 through the passage of The Liberian Navy Act of 1986.[4] However, as a result of the First and Second Liberian civil wars, the navy lost control of its bases and was reduced to an insignificant force.

The Coast Guard was reactivated on the 53rd Armed Forces Day on February 11, 2010, with an initial strength of 40 personnel who had been trained in the United States.[5] A United States Coast Guard officer is now serving at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia supporting efforts to reestablish the Liberian Coast Guard.[6]

A detachment from SeaBee Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7, based at Naval Station Rota, Spain, constructed a United States Africa Command-funded boat ramp and concrete perimeter wall for the Coast Guard, which was handed over in December 2010.[7] In February 2011, the United States turned over two donated USCG Defender class boats to the Coast Guard.[8]

Fleet

The fleet of the Liberian National Coast Guard currently consists of:

Ranks

See main article: Military ranks of Liberia. The ranks and insignia of the Liberian National Coast Guard are based on those of the United States Coast Guard, and are laid out in the Liberian Defense Act of 2008.

Officers

Enlisted personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Defense Act of 2008. 2008. 20 November 2017.
  2. Web site: Library of Congress Liberia Country Study 1984: Organization and Strength. Washington DC. 23 May 2017. Accessed via GlobalSecurity.org
  3. Web site: Brief History on the Liberian Coast Guard. 2016. Ministry of National Defense. 20 November 2017.
  4. http://allafrica.com/stories/200808260769.html "Ellen Signs Anti-Corruption Act, Commissions Several Officials", The Inquirer (Monrovia), August 22, 2008
  5. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President's Annual Message, January 25, 2010
  6. Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris, APS, Seabees Bolster Liberia's Coast Guard, Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs, October 20, 2009
  7. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53732 NMCB 7 Liberia Detachment Receives Commendation
  8. http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/10592 US Equip AFL with 2 Boats
  9. Web site: USCG: About Us - Aircraft & Cutters . www.uscg.mil . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120122093048/http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/spc-le.asp . 2012-01-22.