Cyprus Port and Marine Police

The Cyprus Port & Marine Police (Greek: Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία, Turkish: Liman ve Deniz Polisi) is the marine police and the civilian Coast Guard wing of the Cyprus Police, and are tasked with the primary mission of law enforcement of the waters around, and control of the sea borders of the Republic of Cyprus. Main roles are reported to include law enforcement of illicit activities such as smuggling, terrorism, piracy and illegal fishing. The Cyprus Port and Marine Police also serve a role as a search and rescue (SAR) force. This force is equipped with patrol boats and radars.

Cyprus Port and Marine Police
Λιμενική και Ναυτική Αστυνομία
Racing stripe
AbbreviationΛ. & Ν.Α.
Agency overview
Formed1960
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction)		CY
Operations jurisdictionCY
SizeAreas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus – 157.28 nautical miles - 37.71% of the coastline
Excluding
Turkish occupied areas: 218.11 nautical miles - 52.29% of the coastline
Buffer zone: 2.4 nautical miles, 0.57% of the coastline
Sovereign British Bases: 39.32 nautical miles - 9.43% of the coastline
(One Nautical mile = 1,852m)[1]
Population838,897 [2]
Legal jurisdictionTerritorial waters: 12 nautical miles from the coast[1]
Contiguous zone: extends from the point the territorial waters and ends up to a distance of 24 nautical miles from the coast.[1]
Governing bodyCyprus Police
Constituting instruments
  • The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus[3]
  • Police Law 73(I)2004[3]
  • Criminal Code Cap.154[3]
  • Criminal Procedure Law Cap.155[3]
  • Evidence Law Cap-9[3]
  • The Processing of Personal Data (Protection of the Individual) Law 138(1)/2001[3]
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
HeadquartersLimassol, Cyprus
Police Officersabout 330 personnel (2005)
Minister responsible
  • NICOLAOU Ionas[4]
Agency executives
  • Zacharias Chrisostomou [5], Chief of Police
  • Unknown [6], Commander
Parent agencyCyprus Police
DepartmentsPorts
Marine
Technical Support
Radar Surveillance[7]
Facilities
Port and Marine Stations9 [8]
Boats5 Fast Sea Patrol Boats
5 Patrol Boats
6 Rigit Inflatable Boats[9]
Website
http://www.police.gov.cy/

Cyprus Marine Police boats are notable by the "PV-" (Patrol Vessel) and "PL-" (Patrol Launch) prefixes on their pennant numbers, painted on the side of the hull.

History [10]

In 1956 a special committee, set up by the then British Colonial Government for the re-organisation of Cyprus Police, included in its report a proposal for the establishment of a Port and Marine Police in Cyprus. The new Service was set up the following year equipped with seven boats. It operated as an independent Police Division with its headquarters at Famagusta and 2 permanent stations in Limassol and Larnaca. It also had a sub-station in Kyrenia which operated during the summer. In 1960, with the establishment of the independent Republic of Cyprus, the Port and Marine Police became a branch of the Police and the Gendarmerie.

The Turkish invasion of 1974 was a great blow for the Port and Marine Police as its installations at Famagusta Port were destroyed and five out of its seven boats were seized by the Turkish Army. After this great loss it continued to operate but only with two boats at its stations in Larnaca and Limassol. Its headquarters were transferred from Famagusta to the old port of Limassol.

Developments since 1974

In 1981-83, two Plascoa launches were acquired from France, equipped with 1 20mm Oerlikon L70 cannon, one 12.7mm and two 7.62mm machine guns. One of them was deleted from the service in 1991, another in 2000-2004.

In 1986, six local build Astrapi V (Fletcher Malibu) small Speed Boats.[11] Later (circa 2004-2006) replaced by NOVAMARINE R.I.B. boats.

In 1991, two FAC-23 patrol vessels were acquired from Yugoslavia, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 7.62mm machine guns,[12] later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns.

In 1992, five SAB-12 launches were transferred from Germany to Cyprus, without armament.[12]

In 1998, a single Shaldag patrol vessel was acquired from Israel, initially equipped with 1 20mm .90cal cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns,[12] later replaced by 3 12.7 mm machine guns.

In 2004, Cyprus took delivery of two FPB 30M (P-190) class patrol vessels from Cantierre Navale Vittoria.[13] These were initially equipped with 1 12.7 mm and 2 7.62mm machine guns (on the forecastle,[12] later also replaced with 12.7 mm machine guns).

In 2010, according to local press,[14] Port and Marine Police fleet planning to receive 2 more patrol boats (Length - approx. 15-16 meter, Width - 4–5 meters, Speed - not less than 43 knots).

In 2013, according to local press,[15] the Port and Marine Police acquired two new police boats, that were purchased from Greece, as part of the cross-border cooperation program between the two countries. The two boats were purchased for €60m and are equipped with portable thermal scopes and other sophisticated equipment to combat various forms of organised cross-border crime such as illegal immigration and the smuggling of drugs and weapons in the area. The €48m of the total cost of the program has been funded by the EU.

Administration

Headquartered in Limassol the Port and Marine Police is administered by its Commander and Assistant Commanders.

The Commander has both administrative and operational responsibility and is accountable to the Chief of Police through the Assistant Chief of Support.

The Port and Marine Police includes the following offices: Message Control Centre, Registry, Stores, Accounts Office, Security Office and Operations Office.

Stations

The Port and Marine Police is made up of the following stations:

  • Latsi Port and Marine Station
  • Paphos Port and Marine Station
  • Limassol New Port Station
  • Limassol Marine Station
  • Ayios Raphael Marina Port Station
  • Larnaca Port and Marine Station
  • Larnaca Marina Port Station
  • Ayia Napa Marine Station
  • Paralimni Marine Station

Fleet since 1980

The Port and Marine Police Fleet at present is made up of 16 boats which can be divided into three categories according to their size, construction, capability and mission. The three categories are:

Category A
Includes five fast sea patrol boats (F.P.B – JET) which can operate within a large radius – contiguous zone and open sea.
FAC-23 Class, Evagoras, Pennant PV-21 (side view)
FAC-23 Class, Evagoras, Pennant PV-21 (rear view)
Category B
Includes five patrol boats (SAB – 12) which can operate within a medium-range radius – within territorial waters.
SAB-12 Class, Karpasia, Pennant PL-14
Category C
Includes six small inflatable speed boats (R.I.B./SP7) – mostly used close to shore.
R.I.B. (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
Country of Origin Vessel Type Class Name Pennant Status
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) FAC-23 Poseidon PV-20 Active
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) FAC-23 Evagoras PV-21 Active
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) Shaldag Odyseus PV-22 Active
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) FPB 30M Theseas PV-23 Active
Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) FPB 30M Onisilos PV-24 Active
Motor Launch (ML) SAB-12 Dionysos PL-11 Active
Motor Launch (ML) SAB-12 Kourion PL-12 Active
Motor Launch (ML) SAB-12 Ilarion PL-13 Active
Motor Launch (ML) SAB-12 Karpasia PL-14 Active
Motor Launch (ML) SAB-12 Akamas PL-15 Active
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 30 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 31 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 32 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 33 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 34 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat
Speed Boat (SB) Astrapi V Astrapi 35 N/A Replaced by R.I.B. Boat

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-02-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.cystat.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics.nsf/All/732265957BAC953AC225798300406903?OpenDocument&sub=2&sel=1&e= 31 Jan 2012
  3. "CYPRUS POLICE - Police Authorities". Police.gov.cy. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  4. Ministry of Justice and Public Order "Minister's CV". Retrieved 8 Jul 2013.
  5. Chief of Police CV Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine 31 Jan 2012
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-02-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2012-02-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. http://www.police.gov.cy/police/police.nsf/dmltelephones_en/dmltelephones_en?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=2#_Section2 31 Jan 2012
  9. http://www.police.gov.cy/police/police.nsf/All/5095396EC1860E67C22578A900271B84?OpenDocument Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine 31 Jan 2012
  10. "Cyprus Police Official Website". Police.gov.cy. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  11. Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005; ISBN 978-0-7106-2623-3; p.168
  12. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems By Eric Wertheim Published by Naval Institute Press, 2007 ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2, ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. online, Πολίτης -. "Πολίτης - online". Πολίτης - online. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  15. Cyprus Mail Website "Police show off new patrol boats". Retrieved 12 Nov 2013.
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