Croatian Volunteer Croatian Volunteer Coast Guard - Coast Guard -

Factor in Safety at Factor in Safety at SeaSea

Dr. Tonči Tadić, Rudjer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

A short trip in history: A short trip in history: Lepanto 1571 – Nafpaktos Lepanto 1571 – Nafpaktos 20062006

A short trip in history: A short trip in history: Lepanto 1571 – Nafpaktos Lepanto 1571 – Nafpaktos 20062006

Abstract:Abstract: Croatian Volunteer Coast Guard (HDOS) has Croatian Volunteer Coast Guard (HDOS) has

been pictured as voluntary, non-profit been pictured as voluntary, non-profit humanitarian public association. humanitarian public association.

Its task would primarily be to assist in search Its task would primarily be to assist in search and rescue actions at sea, along with the and rescue actions at sea, along with the participation in surveillance missions, as well participation in surveillance missions, as well as the preservation of the littoral and as the preservation of the littoral and maritime domain under the sovereignty of the maritime domain under the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia (both inland sea waters Republic of Croatia (both inland sea waters and the territorial sea), with the sea areas and the territorial sea), with the sea areas under the sovereign law of the Republic of under the sovereign law of the Republic of Croatia (Croatia (proprotected ecologic-fishery tected ecologic-fishery zonezone). ).

HDOS would not have any instruments of HDOS would not have any instruments of force employment. force employment. It has been designed as an It has been designed as an entirely civilian seaworthy service, which entirely civilian seaworthy service, which would be used to service the vessels at sea. would be used to service the vessels at sea.

Coast Guard Models Coast Guard Models for for CroatiaCroatia No definite decision has been made with regard No definite decision has been made with regard

to the constitutional coast guard model in the to the constitutional coast guard model in the Republic of Croatia, Republic of Croatia, i.e. i.e. the the most suitable in the most suitable in the preservation of the national interests of Croatia preservation of the national interests of Croatia at the Adriatic Seaat the Adriatic Sea. Four models are offered: . Four models are offered:

1. 1. Coast Guard as integral part of the Croatian Coast Guard as integral part of the Croatian Navy; Navy;

2. 2. Coast Guard as a separate organization under Coast Guard as a separate organization under the authority of the Croatian Navy; the authority of the Croatian Navy;

3.3. Coast Guard as a separate agency with special Coast Guard as a separate agency with special authorities; or authorities; or

4.4. Coast Guard, as the coordination of port Coast Guard, as the coordination of port master’s offices, maritime police forces and the master’s offices, maritime police forces and the Croatian Navy forces.Croatian Navy forces.

A need for A need for volunteer-based volunteer-based or auxiliary coast guardor auxiliary coast guard Independently from the Coast Guard model which Independently from the Coast Guard model which

will eventually be adopted in Croatia, one must will eventually be adopted in Croatia, one must always keep in mind the fact that practically every always keep in mind the fact that practically every country, along with the “professional” coast guard country, along with the “professional” coast guard forces, has developed the “reserve” coast guard forces, has developed the “reserve” coast guard forces, or rather the volunteer-based or auxiliary forces, or rather the volunteer-based or auxiliary coast guard. coast guard.

Its roleIts roles are:s are: TThe participation in search and rescue missions he participation in search and rescue missions

at sea,at sea, As well as in tAs well as in the reinforcement role to the he reinforcement role to the

“actual” Coast Guard“actual” Coast Guard ( (in the missions of in the missions of surveillance, surveillance, and in and in preservation of the littoral preservation of the littoral and maritime domain under the sovereignty of and maritime domain under the sovereignty of that maritime countrythat maritime country))

Why?Why?

The answer is simple and clear : The answer is simple and clear : None of the countries thought of None of the countries thought of

entrusting only the few coast guard entrusting only the few coast guard professionals on the Coast Guard Ships, professionals on the Coast Guard Ships, with the rescue missions at seawith the rescue missions at sea!!

IIn the search and rescue missions at sea, n the search and rescue missions at sea, the determination and experience of the the determination and experience of the inhabitants of the islands and coastal area inhabitants of the islands and coastal area is of utmost importance. is of utmost importance.

What these people need is the system to What these people need is the system to fit infit in!!

Examples from other Examples from other maritime countries maritime countries In In USA or Canada, the Coast Guard USA or Canada, the Coast Guard

Auxiliary has been an integrated part of Auxiliary has been an integrated part of the Coast Guard. the Coast Guard.

Examples from other Examples from other maritime countries maritime countries

AustraliaAustralia - - Volunteer Volunteer Coast Guard Association Coast Guard Association

ItalyItaly - T - The sea rescue he sea rescue association association SalvamentoSalvamento (f. (f. 18711871))

UK - TUK - The Royal National he Royal National Lifeboat Institution Lifeboat Institution ((ff. . 18241824))

Island and Norway have Island and Norway have similar associationssimilar associations

Elsewhere Elsewhere the auxiliary the auxiliary coast guard coast guard is is a a separate organization separate organization dedicated dedicated for sea rescue for sea rescue missionmission::

The organizational scheme The organizational scheme of the Croatian Volunteer of the Croatian Volunteer Coast Guard should follow Coast Guard should follow mantionedmantioned models models..

The Croatian Parliament should either The Croatian Parliament should either adopt a separate bylawadopt a separate bylaw in order in order to regulate to regulate the duties of HDOS - Croatian Volunteer the duties of HDOS - Croatian Volunteer Coast Guard, its work, authority and range Coast Guard, its work, authority and range of activities, of activities, and to provide a and to provide a legal legal framework forframework for. .

A good example is set by the Fire A good example is set by the Fire Department Law, which has summoned and Department Law, which has summoned and organized the work of the Volunteer Fire organized the work of the Volunteer Fire Brigades, and the status of the Croatian Brigades, and the status of the Croatian Fire Department CommunityFire Department Community as an umbrella as an umbrella framework for all firemen in Croatiaframework for all firemen in Croatia. .

The tasks of the HDOSThe tasks of the HDOS::

search and rescue missions; search and rescue missions; transportation of urgent medical patients to the transportation of urgent medical patients to the

land, land, public beach surveillance tasks; public beach surveillance tasks; sea and beach competition safety; sea and beach competition safety; sea - pollution prevention; sea - pollution prevention; preservation of natural and cultural patrimony preservation of natural and cultural patrimony

of the sea and undersea world in Adriatic; of the sea and undersea world in Adriatic; education and courses for the members with education and courses for the members with

regard to the safety sea missions in extreme regard to the safety sea missions in extreme situations; and situations; and

seminar and courses’ organizations with regard seminar and courses’ organizations with regard to the sea safety for all the stakeholdersto the sea safety for all the stakeholders

HDOS organization HDOS organization schemescheme

The headquarters on littoral municipal level or on islands

The regional headquarters in 7 Adriatic regions (counties)

Commodore with The Adriatic HDOS headquarters

The Coast Guard Headquarters

The regional search and rescue centers

local headquarters of the HDOS flotilla

The Commodore and The The Commodore and The Adriatic Headquarters of Adriatic Headquarters of

HDOSHDOS The commodore is the commanding officer, in charge of the The commodore is the commanding officer, in charge of the

HDOS. HDOS. The Adriatic HDOS headquarters would take care of the The Adriatic HDOS headquarters would take care of the

operative work, subordinated to the Coast Guard operative work, subordinated to the Coast Guard Headquarters, and linked to the Search and Rescue Center. Headquarters, and linked to the Search and Rescue Center.

The HDOS Assembly General The HDOS Assembly General - - composed of representatives of composed of representatives of 7 7 Adriatic regionsAdriatic regions, , electelectss the HDOS presidency for its the HDOS presidency for its mandate. mandate.

The presidency appoints the HDOS commanding officer, and The presidency appoints the HDOS commanding officer, and authorizes him to constitute the HDOS headquarters.authorizes him to constitute the HDOS headquarters.

The task of these central bodies The task of these central bodies is to is to establish the full establish the full cooperation with the “professional” cooperation with the “professional” CCoast oast GGuarduard, as well as, as well as to to work on the modernization and professional educationwork on the modernization and professional education..

The organizational scheme on regional level follows the The organizational scheme on regional level follows the national organization scheme. national organization scheme.

The regional HDOS assembly is composed of HDOS association The regional HDOS assembly is composed of HDOS association representatives on municipal level, or island associations. representatives on municipal level, or island associations.

HDOS membershipHDOS membership The HDOS membership would be composed of all those The HDOS membership would be composed of all those

sailing on the Adriatic, citizens of the Republic of Croatiasailing on the Adriatic, citizens of the Republic of Croatia:: members of different diving centers, members of different diving centers, private small ship-owners, skippers and ship tradesmen, private small ship-owners, skippers and ship tradesmen, fishing boat ownersfishing boat owners and and fishermen, fishermen, and generally all who would be prepared to attend and generally all who would be prepared to attend

special search- and- rescue- at- sea – courses. special search- and- rescue- at- sea – courses.

The HDOS activities would be voluntary, and they would The HDOS activities would be voluntary, and they would not be reimbursed for the rescue missions. not be reimbursed for the rescue missions.

The HDOS membership would also be volunteer – based, The HDOS membership would also be volunteer – based, and the uniforms and equipment would be provided for and the uniforms and equipment would be provided for “out of one’s own pocket”, or from member-ship fees, “out of one’s own pocket”, or from member-ship fees, donations or subventionsdonations or subventions

It is, nevertheless, of utmost importance, to It is, nevertheless, of utmost importance, to create the adequate social climate, with the basic create the adequate social climate, with the basic idea that at sea, everyone can contribute in idea that at sea, everyone can contribute in rescue missions. rescue missions.

AAuxiliary HDOS vesselsuxiliary HDOS vessels In the ideal scenario, HDOS would use the Coast Guard In the ideal scenario, HDOS would use the Coast Guard

auxiliary ships. auxiliary ships. However, since we feel the chronic lack of specially designed However, since we feel the chronic lack of specially designed

ships in Croatia, HDOS should open its doors to private ship-ships in Croatia, HDOS should open its doors to private ship-owners, who would thus become the reserve or “listed” HDOS owners, who would thus become the reserve or “listed” HDOS ships. ships.

The private ships could be prepared and await missions only The private ships could be prepared and await missions only on irregular basis, several weeks a year. Of course, the rescue on irregular basis, several weeks a year. Of course, the rescue costs would be covered by HDOS. costs would be covered by HDOS.

The yacht owners with navigational experience, willing to The yacht owners with navigational experience, willing to volunteer, could become members along with their vessel. volunteer, could become members along with their vessel.

Such a reserve Coast Guard vessel, would, whilst on duty, wave Such a reserve Coast Guard vessel, would, whilst on duty, wave the reservist’s Coast Guard flag. the reservist’s Coast Guard flag.

Thus Thus HDOS would be able to employ, in a short HDOS would be able to employ, in a short time, several hundreds of ships and several time, several hundreds of ships and several thousands of members on the Adriatic which would thousands of members on the Adriatic which would be of immeasurable benefit in all search and rescue be of immeasurable benefit in all search and rescue missions, and would improve the safety at seamissions, and would improve the safety at sea!!

Croatia only has to follow Croatia only has to follow the already successful path the already successful path

and examples of other and examples of other maritime countriesmaritime countries ! !

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !