Maritime security is an umbrella term informed to classify issues in the maritime domain that are often related to national security , marine environment, economic development, and human security . This includes the world's oceans but also regional seas, territorial waters , rivers and ports, where seas act as a “ stage for geopolitical power projection, interstate warfare or militarized disputes, as a source of specific threats such as piracy, or as a connector between states that enables various phenomena from colonialism to globalization ”. The theoretical concept of maritime security has evolved from a narrow perspective of national naval power projection towards a buzzword that incorporates many interconnected sub-fields. The definition of the term maritime security varies and while no internationally agreed definition exists, the term has often been used to describe both existing, and new regional and international challenges to the maritime domain. The buzzword character enables international actors to discuss these new challenges without the need to define every potentially contested aspect of it. Maritime security is of increasing concern to the global shipping industry, where there are a wide range of security threats and challenges. Some of the practical issues clustered under the term of maritime security include crimes such as piracy , armed robbery at sea, trafficking of people and illicit goods, illegal fishing or marine pollution . War, warlike activity, maritime terrorism and interstate rivalry (such as the Territorial disputes in the South China Sea or conflict in the Strait of Hormuz ) are also maritime security concerns.
68-668: The Belize Coast Guard (until 2016, the Belize National Coast Guard Service ) is the maritime security , search and rescue , and the maritime and law enforcement service branch of Belize . The BCG is under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The current Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard is Captain Elton Bennett. The new service began operations with seven impounded Eduardoño fast craft and 50 men drawn from
136-622: A concern throughout history for nation states, maritime security has evolved significantly since the early 2000s, when in particular concerns over terrorist attacks on port facilities sparked interest in security in the maritime domain and led to the creation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code . The ISPS Code is enforced through Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention . Most littoral states and international organisations have also outlined maritime security strategies. It
204-709: A crucial role in supporting the Belize Coast Guard. Their professional military education and training is a result of the international relationship that remains strong through 2020. The United States of America, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada and Taiwan, at the Multi National Security Conference in September 2019 have all committed to continue to support the Belize Coast Guard. In that regard, one hundred and six (or 20%) Coast Guard personnel has been overseas for training and exercises in 2019. Commandant of
272-411: A lack of awareness from ship operators and seafarers. Also, navigation equipment such as ECDIS, GPS, AIS, RADAR can be compromised. In the traditional realist school of thought of international relations, maritime security is mainly regarded as a matter of sea power (also command of the sea). In peacetime, sea power is associated with countries securing the ability to conduct transport and trade via
340-553: A major maritime terror attack. The illegal drug trade and trafficking of other prohibited items such as weapons is a key issue that affects global maritime security. In particular, Maritime drug trafficking in Latin America is the primary mean of transportation of illegal drugs produced in this region to global consumer markets, primarily in the form of cocaine from the Andean region of South America. The smuggling of drugs through
408-596: A pool of two Justice 370s and four other craft for operations. One platoon is usually on operation, with another training and the third on leave. Each sector is responsible for the operation of several forward operating bases: six being coastguard stations, while seven are joint facilities where the BCG works alongside the BDF ( Belize Defence Force ), the Belize Fisheries Department, customs officials, and NGOs. Directly under
476-493: A practical security concern while at ports and anchorages . However, the presence of stowaways also presents complex legal issues, involving refugees, the shipping company, ship and ship's crew, as well as the flag State of the ship and the Port State . Port security is part of a broader definition concerning maritime security and refers to the defence, law and treaty enforcement, and counterterrorism activities that fall within
544-404: A restricted space, organised between Portugal and Spain . Maritime activity was exclusively reserved for the enhancement of national security through naval military. In 1609, Hugo Grotius , a Dutch philosopher and jurist, published the book mare liberum where he introduced the concept of the free sea ( mare liberum is translated to free sea in legal Latin ). In his book, Grotius laid out
612-548: A result of the economic costs for world trade and the physical threats to seafarers, maritime security gained a significant increase of attention by the shipping industry, insurers and policy makers around the world. Piracy was also the starting point of many international relations scholars for approaching maritime security as a concept. In the wake of the Mumbai Terrorist attack in November 2008, an Indian scholar even lamented
680-403: Is a form of privatised security, one of the core functions of modern states. The maritime industry has developed an ISO certification (ISO 28007:2015) for the provision of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships. The presence of PCASPs on ships creates complex legal issues and in most cases, permission must be given from the ship's flag State before armed personnel can attend
748-422: Is active since 1994. It now includes various zones and jurisdictions, including internal, territorial, and archipelagic waters . It further defines the exclusive sovereign waters of a state called contiguous zone , and the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in which a state has the sole exploitation rights of resources like oil and fish. The latter can be extended by the continental shelf , a natural prolongation of
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#1732859576712816-492: Is also looking to expand its fleet of naval vessels. Maritime law enforcement agency will procure a pair of patrol boats through a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The CABEI loan, as it is called, will allow the Ministry of National Security to upgrade a number of facilities and acquire other assets across all branches of law enforcement. The Sea Axe Class vessels are considerably larger than
884-607: Is currently headed by Chairlady Dian Wite. 2016–2019 Village Council members The Belize Telemedia Limited - Ladyville Branch is located on the Old Airport Road. The Belize Electricity Limited - Ladyville Branch, is located at 9 3/4mls Northern Highway. The Belize Water Services Ltd - Ladyville branch is located at Lord's Bank road. Butane Gas services are provided by Southern Choice Butane and Belize Western Energy Limited. Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport , formerly known as The Belize International Airport (BZE),
952-566: Is in particular piracy in Southeast Asia, off the coast of Somalia and in West Africa which has triggered recognition for the detrimental effects of maritime insecurities for economic development, human security as well as the environment. Maritime security is often transnational and goes beyond the maritime domain itself (see liminality ). It is characterized as being cross-jurisdictional and/or highly jurisdictional complex. Historically,
1020-424: Is interested in looking at the relations and how the concept of maritime security comes to be through actions, interactions and perceptions. Constructivists’ look at how different understandings of maritime security are informed by different political interests and normative understandings. Professor Christian Bueger has proposed three frameworks for how to deconstruct concepts of maritime security by various actors:
1088-587: Is located on the north bank of the Belize River and is approximately 5 miles inland from the Caribbean Sea. The terrain is part of the Belize's lowland and part of a natural flood plain. The land consists of broadleaf lowland forests and marshlands with creeks, ponds and mangrove forest along the coast. The Phillip Goldson highway cuts through the village. It has several neighbourhoods: National Government Ladyville
1156-622: Is part of the Belize Rural Central Constituency. Currently, the area representative for the Belize Rural Central Constituency, following the general elections on 5 November 2015, is Beverly Diane Castillo with 2560 votes who defeated incumbent representative Dolores Balderamos Garcia who had 2502 votes. 2015 National Election Summary Belize Rural Central 7513 5284 70.33% Beverly Diane Castillo UDP 2560 48.45% Dolores Balderamos Garcia PUP 2502 47.35% Javier Molina BPP 152 2.88% rejected 70 1.32% Local Government The Village Council
1224-691: Is really the transnational organised crime in the form of drug trafficking and weapon smuggling. The BCG also works to prevent illegal fishing and other illicit activity affecting the Belizean maritime ecosystem, supporting the Belize. The Coast Guard Service coordinates its activities with the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Police Department . The force has its Headquarters (HQ) on the outskirts of Belize City where storage and maintenance facilities for its boats are also found. Coming under
1292-561: Is the largest village in the country of Belize , eight miles northwest of Belize City in the Belize District . The Philip Goldson Highway connects Ladyville to Belize City. Although originally a separate settlement, Ladyville has become a suburb of Belize City , with many of its residents commuting to the city on a daily basis. Ladyville recorded a population of 5,458 in the 2010 national census. The total number of households are 1,227 with an average size of 3.6 persons. Ladyville
1360-408: Is the regulation of the maritime domain. Some legal scholars have defined maritime security as a “ stable order of the oceans subject to the rule of law at sea ”. The liberalist’ approach emphasises that international law has been a means to transform the traditional way of countries power projection on the sea through their navies towards a cooperation in order to achieve common goals. The focus of
1428-476: The Copenhagen School , securitization looks at who is making claims (using some form of language) in the name of security to carryout measures that would otherwise not easily be justified and accepted. The framework of practice theory enables to analyse what kind of activities are actually conducted in the name of security. Practice in this theory is seen as patterns of doing and saying things that lead to
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#17328595767121496-556: The Gulf of Guinea off West Africa is increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, accounting for just over 90% of maritime kidnappings worldwide. However, the report noted that the number of ship hijackings in the first half of 2020 was at their lowest level since 1993. In total, IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 98 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first half of 2020, up from 78 in Q2 2019. Some areas of Southeast Asia, including
1564-653: The International Maritime Organization . The primary Code is the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code which entered into force in 2004. The United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) which took place in 1984 gives a framework to piracy prohibition. Since 2008, the United Nations Security Council edited some Resolutions concerning the specific Somali case like for example
1632-773: The Mediterranean Sea , the Horn of Africa , Southeast Asia and the Caribbean . Since the beginning of the European migrant crisis in 2015, the effects of unsafe mixed migration on maritime security have been shown by both the number of ships arriving from Africa to the European coast (demonstrating the permeability of Europe's maritime borders) but also by the visible humanitarian consequences of vessels transporting migrants sinking , leading to deaths at sea. For shipping, Stowaways remaining
1700-842: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in Pakistan. The first country to put the problem on their agenda were the United States in 2004 with the Maritime Security Policy. It marked the beginning of United States' Maritime Security Operations , some maritime military actions other than wars, charged to detect and prevent illicit operations. Piracy and armed robbery remains an ongoing issue in maritime security. The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy and Armed Robbery report states that attacks against ships and their crews have risen in 2019/2020. They identify that
1768-541: The Straits of Malacca and the Celebes Sea are also areas where piracy and armed robbery take place at sea, although in most cases, armed robbery is the most prevalent. The West Indian Ocean is an area with maritime security concerns for shipping and governments. Somali piracy started to increase in the early 2000s, after a civil war affected the area. Between 2008 and 2013, large numbers of attacks against merchant ships in
1836-578: The USS Cole bombing in 2000 and the September 11 attacks in 2001. Several states and international organisations have since outlined maritime security strategies. Many best practices and standards regarding physical maritime security like the ISPS Code from 2002 as a consequence of the attacks have been published by regulating authorities or the maritime industry. In the light of the perceived terrorist threat,
1904-561: The port and surrounding maritime area. It includes the protection of the seaports themselves and the protection and inspection of the cargo moving through the ports. Security risks related to ports often focus on either the physical security of the port, or security risks within the maritime supply chain. Interstate dispute is a core dimension of maritime security and can be described as a hostile and conflictual relationship between two or more states. Interstate dispute arises due to strategic competition over access and capacity to “to utilise
1972-553: The 1846th in 2008 and the 1918th in 2010, in order to make member countries put piracy as a penal crime in their domestic legislation. Those resolutions were ratified, but despite ratification, few countries have applied that resolution in their domestic law. In 2011, NATO put the maritime security issue in its Alliance Maritime Strategy objectives. Despite the few countries who applied UN resolutions focused on Somalia piracy in their national legislation, many have created national agencies or bureaus specialized in maritime Security, like
2040-598: The Bacalar Chico area, a mile and a half away from the Mexican border, will not only serve to patrol the northern coast of the island, but also deter any sort of criminal activities that threaten the safety and economic progress of Ambergris Caye Hunting Caye is located at the southern apex of the Belize and northern Honduras/Guatemala maritime border and it provides that forward deployment from where they can project sea power in encountering transnational organized crime. In 2007,
2108-598: The Belize Coast Guard is Captain Elton Bennett. The chief base of the Belize Coast Guard Service is located at mile 4 on the Western Highway. Belize Coastguard gets a place to call headquarters | Channel5Belize.com The new headquarters was built with the assistance from the US southern command. It was formerly located at Ladyville . The Forward Operating Base at Calabash Caye was inaugurated on March 17, 2010. It
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2176-487: The Boston Whalers currently in use by the coast guard and will allow for wider coverage of Belizean waters. While Belize is in talks with Mexico to acquire both ships, no date has been set for their procurement. They also received body armors, tactical floatation devices, night vision devices, surveillance cameras and laptop computer equipment which will be used by the coast guard SEALs. Maritime security While
2244-766: The Coast Guard Service had eight boats in commission. There are no aircraft; for air searches the Coast Guard Service relies on the Belize Defence Force . The Belize Coast Guard Service received several fast boats from the United States Coast Guard in 2008. These boats have a maximum speed of 60 to 65 miles per hour (100 to 108 km/h).The Belize Coast Guard inaugurated a new facility on December 2, 2013. Belize Coast Guard inaugurates new facility and graduates 30 - The San Pedro Sun The Belize National Coast Guard, along with growing its strength in numbers,
2312-493: The Coast Guard service has a strength of 600 men and women, referred to as "guardsmen." As the Coast Guard broadens its scope it is evident that there is a need to increase its strength. In November 2019 they graduated the largest class since existence. Eighty five recruits joined their ranks. In addition to personnel administration, one hundred and six persons were promoted across the ranks. Their international partners also play
2380-566: The First Fleet commandant is the Strike Team: an eight-man special operations unit specialising in maritime interdiction, counter-narcotics missions, and amphibious operations. Stood up in 2016, it is now slated for amalgamation into the CSOG to consolidate all BCG special operations assets within a single unit. A platoon-sized force, CSOG was formed in 2013 to respond to the degrading security situation in
2448-515: The HQ are the CSOG, the fleet command also known as First Fleet, and the service and support group, which includes the training company handling recruit training, stores, and equipment supplies, as well as the maintenance component of the BCG. The First Fleet includes an HQ and is broken down into northern, central, and southern sectors, each comprising three 30-man platoons. These are made up of boat teams and boarding teams, with each sector providing them with
2516-461: The Indian Ocean occurred, gaining international attention. This eventually led to the privatisation of maritime security as an increasing number of shipping companies hired private maritime security companies to protect their crews, ships and cargoes (known as 'Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel or PCASP)'. This development affects governments, navies and other security agencies because it
2584-533: The Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 defines maritime terrorism as "Any attempt or threat to seize control of a ship by force; To damage or destroy a ship or its cargo; To injure or kill a person on board a ship; or To endanger in any way the safe navigation of a ship that moves from the territorial waters ". Some terrorist attacks against maritime targets are very rare compared to
2652-532: The disbanded Belize Defence Force Maritime Wing. The Coast Guard was originally established as a part of Belize Defence Force established in November 2005 with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard . It became an independent branch from the BDF in November 2005. Coast Guard men and women are deployed around the clock patrolling the internal waters and territorial seas. On the northern frontier, their joint operating base at Consejo protects
2720-636: The foundation of the freedom of navigation at sea. The sea was seen as international territory, where every nation was free to conduct trade. Grotius’ concept of the free sea was superseded by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) . This international agreement first came into effect in 1958 as the Convention on the High Seas ( UNCLOS I ). The most recent agreement is UNCLOS III , which
2788-435: The freedom of navigation, the flow of commerce and the protection of ocean resources, as well as securing the maritime domain from nation-state threats, terrorism, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime , piracy, environmental destruction and illegal seaborne immigration ” as the goal of maritime security. Central to the liberal school of thought approach in international relations to maritime security
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2856-453: The general concept of ‘maritime security’: A matrix may have each concept in a corner of a square, maritime security being situated in the centre. Depending on what is being analysed, concepts like human trafficking can then be situated e.g. between ‘maritime security’, ‘human security’, and ‘economic development’. Securitization is a framework of international relations originally developed by Ole Wæver and Barry Buzan . Sometimes called
2924-416: The implementation of maritime security measures. According to Bueger five practices fit within the conventional spectrum of maritime security: These activities can be seen through two different perspective. The focus can either be laid on what activities belong to the everyday routine of maritime security actors or on the measures that are done in exceptional circumstances. Ladyville Ladyville
2992-538: The increased technology and connectivity on modern ships in the 21st century, cyber security has become a maritime security concern. Cyber Security has come under increased focus in the maritime industry since the IMO required cyber security to be addressed under the International Safety Management Code of ships from 1 January 2021. There are significant cyber security gaps on ships. These are due to
3060-623: The liberal paradigm has been criticised as being mainly limited to technicalities and formalities of international law, but not helping understanding the governance aspects of maritime security that go beyond legal and normative regulation. However, it has also been pointed out that the liberalist approach is a much better reflection of reality than the highly theoretical constructivist approach, explained in detail below. Dirk Siebels, an expert on maritime security, has explained that regional agreements between governments are generally needed to define maritime security – or good order at sea – for
3128-502: The local economy from the negative impacts of illegal contraband and acts as the northern cut off for drug trafficking. On their southern boundary they stand guard at the Sarstoon river ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize. They stand ready for anything (Utrinque Paratus). The Belize Coast Guard mission includes: Like other naval forces in the region, the BCG mostly confronts crime at sea. “What occupies most of their time
3196-470: The maritime domain. A present case of interstate rivalry is between the US, India and China in the Western Indian Ocean . The US used to be the dominant naval force in the region, yet this is changing and today the three states are competing over economic influence, extractive resources and military strength in the region. Where the US used to be the dominant security provider of crucial SLOCs in
3264-481: The maritime security matrix that helps conceptualise relations, the securitization framework that looks at claims that are being made in relation to maritime security, and practice theory to analyse what is actually being done in the name of maritime security. The maritime security matrix looks at the semantic relations between maritime security and other maritime concepts (see also semiotics ) using four dimensions to relate and situate maritime security topics in and to
3332-453: The north of the island of Ambergris Caye. “Different gangs would clash over drugs washed ashore. People would be found in shallow graves. They would harass the locals with home invasions, steal their boats, and sell them in Mexico. A selection and training course run by US Navy SEAL personnel saw eight BCG personnel graduate as Belizean SEALs, becoming the founding members of the unit. By 2014 CSOG
3400-553: The opportunity to transport high volumes of drugs from producing to consuming countries. The volume of illegal drugs being moved in commercial shipping continues to increase and therefore the risk to ships and ports continues to increase, with ships’ crews often unaware that their ship or its cargo are being used as a cover to transport illegal drugs. However, if illegal drugs are found on board by local customs or law enforcement agencies, innocent companies and seafarers may potentially be exposed to huge financial fines or penalties, or even
3468-411: The region India and China are both vying for similar positions today. The increased tensions between have led to increased naval presence and an increasing number of military exercises, which risks intensifying military competition in the region and thus decreasing maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. Armed conflict is an area of maritime security, both in the risks for shipping and users of
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#17328595767123536-470: The respective region. Governments in West Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe or other regions may have different priorities, “ yet it is their order, defined in negotiations and in line with international law ”. Constructivism is based on the notion, that security is a socially constructed concept. Rather than accepting maritime security as a given list of threats and means, the constructivist school of thought
3604-457: The risk of imprisonment. Issues such as war, political instability, famine and poverty have resulted in many thousands of people travelling by sea to find better conditions of living. This migration poses several potential security concerns for coastal States, including the safety and legal issues arising from Illegal immigration but also the related criminal aspects of exploitation and human trafficking . Geographic areas principally include
3672-463: The scope of the maritime security concept began to broaden from the narrow focus on interstate military confrontation to include other issues. (See also critical security studies ) It is in particular the surge of piracy during the early 2000s in Southeast Asia , off the coast of Somalia and in West Africa which has triggered recognition for the detrimental effects of maritime insecurities. As
3740-453: The sea and ‘soft’ maritime security being used for threats concerning “ ocean resources, transportation and trade, and exchange of information ”. A number of constructivist’ scholars have criticised this approach to maritime security where defining what a maritime security issue actually is, often becomes a collection of topics associated with threats in the maritime domain. The US Naval Operations Concept from 2006 for example listed “ ensuring
3808-574: The sea has been subject to different concepts of law and power. The term mare nostrum ( our sea in Latin) was coined by the Romans in 30 BC to 117 AD as a term to describe its control of the Mediterranean Sea. From this concept of the sealing of a sea, the legal concept of mare clausum ( closed sea in legal Latin ) was developed during the age of discovery between the 15th and 17th century. The sea became
3876-649: The sea is a security problem for all the countries of the Latin American region. Drug trafficking organizations have developed various complex systems for the transportation and distribution of illegal drugs, where several countries in the region serve as points of contact for the distribution of illegal products, with an estimated 90% of the cocaine produced in the Andean region transported at some point by sea. Smuggling also includes legally allowed items brought in without declaration to avoid customs charges, such as tobacco. This poses issues for maritime security, as often
3944-531: The sea, but also in the wider context of maritime conflict and Naval warfare . War like risks are of increasing concern for maritime users and governments in areas such as the Persian Gulf . Strait of Hormuz and Southern Red Sea Region where conflicts such as the Yemen Conflict and international events such as the ongoing 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis continue to poses maritime security concerns. Owing to
4012-551: The sea. In wartime, sea power describes the agency of navies to attack other navies or other countries sea transportation means. One more recent definitions in realist’ thinking sees maritime security as “ The protection of a state’s land and maritime territory, infrastructure, economy, environment and society from certain harmful acts occurring at sea ”. Some scholars then argue that maritime security can be classified into two different types, ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ security. ‘Hard’ maritime security signifying sea power and domination of
4080-508: The seas for commercial and military purposes, or to prevent others from doing so”. Interstate disputes vary in nature, scope and severity, yet interstate dispute is always politically motivated and concerns the interests of states’. The concept can be divided into three main categories of disputes; 1) Functional disputes over physical properties and resources at sea, 2) Institutional disputes over territorial boundaries and 3) symbolic disputes over cultural and political values that states attach to
4148-780: The serious lack of maritime vision in his government's policies to preserve India's expanding interests, thereby coining the catch-phrase "sea-blindness". One effect of piracy has been the development of regional cooperation initiatives. In Southeast Asia for example, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCaap) has been initiated in 2004 and includes now an Information Sharing Centre (ISC) . Besides maritime domain awareness (MDA) more topics began to become subject of these cooperation initiatives. The International Maritime Organization Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC), adopted in 2009,
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#17328595767124216-456: The smuggling of such items is connected to organised crime. The smuggling of drugs through the sea is a security problem for all the countries of the Latin American region. While traffickers sometimes make use of narco submarines to transport drugs, the primary method of transfer is utilising existing commercial shipping, either hidden on board or placed within legitimate cargoes such as containers. Large ships present organised criminals with
4284-425: The territory of the respective state. Maritime security has until then been mostly concerned with interstate naval conflicts and piracy at sea. As a concept and agenda maritime security has evolved since the late 1990s and early 2000s. In particular concerns over terrorist attacks on port facilities sparked new security interests in the maritime domain. Notable events influencing the maritime security paradigm are
4352-530: The total number of attacks noted by the global terrorism database, however notable cases are famous like the hijacking of the ship Santa Maria in 1961 and the USS Cole bombing in 2000. The September 11 attacks resulted in the global community agreeing on the wider need to improve security in the maritime domain and this led to the creation of the ISPS Code . Since the introduction of the ISPS Code there has not been
4420-676: The vessel and this usually involves confirming Rules for the Use of Force (RUF). Maritime terrorism is also an issue for maritime security and the definition has been clarified by Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific as to be "the undertaking of terrorist acts and activities within the maritime environment, using or against vessels or fixed platforms at sea or in port, or against any one of their passengers or personnel, against coastal facilities or settlements, including tourist resorts, port areas and port towns or cities." The Convention for
4488-555: Was built at a cost of $ 3,000.000.00. National Coastguard’s $ 3 million outpost on Calabash Caye | Channel5Belize.com . Boats are stationed at Caye Caulker and San Pedro under the operational control of Ladyville. On Friday, November 29, 2013, the Belize Coast Guard (as part of their 8th anniversary celebrations) inaugurated its northern Forward Operating Base on Ambergris Caye and also held the graduation ceremony of its fourth intake. The Belize Coast Guard (BCG) officially opened its new patrol base on Friday, July 26. The new outlook post in
4556-509: Was deploying in the field, gathering intelligence and carrying out offensive operations that led to a gradual drop in crime in northern Ambergris Caye. Since then more personnel have been trained and the unit has grown. Armed with M4A1 rifles, FN M249 Squad Automatic Weapons, M240 machine guns, and Remington Model 700 sniper rifles, CSOG operatives are as proficient in maritime operations as they are in land deployments such as long-range reconnaissance and close-quarter combat. As of November 2019,
4624-492: Was originally an agreement on cooperation between East African and Southwest Asian states to counter piracy. Since its revision and the complementary Jeddah Amendment to the DCoC of 2017, it now also includes other illicit maritime activities than piracy like human trafficking or illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) . Maritime security is facilitated at sea and in ports by several international regulations and codes from
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