Greece to recruit 420 new Hellenic Coast Guard personnel

Greece's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, has announced the recruitment of 420 new personnel for the Hellenic Coast Guard. This initiative aims to immediately strengthen the force and upgrade its operational capabilities.

The modernization plan includes tenders for various maritime assets, such as open-sea vessels, interceptor boats, unmanned surface vehicles, and submarines. Additionally, the government plans to establish a high-tech operations center equipped with thermal cameras, drones, and advanced surveillance systems.

Regarding migration management, Kikilias reported a 34% overall decrease in maritime migrant flows compared to last year, with a 61% drop in arrivals from Turkey and a 4% decrease from Libya. To bolster security in Crete, the ministry has deployed four additional Frontex aerial assets and two long-range drones capable of monitoring the Libyan Sea. The Minister also emphasized ongoing cooperation with Libyan authorities to disrupt human smuggling networks at their source.