Greece is adding seven new high-speed patrol boats to the Hellenic Coast Guard fleet, with all seven set to be built ent...

Greece is adding seven new high-speed patrol boats to the Hellenic Coast Guard fleet, with all seven set to be built entirely in Greece at Viking Life-Saving Equipment Hellas facilities in Thebes. The vessels are MAGNAR 1950-class boats, each 21.29 metres long, capable of hitting at least 50 knots and covering a range of at least 320 nautical miles. Each boat will carry a crew of six and accommodate at least 30 people total, with search-and-rescue equipment on board. Shipping and Island Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias signed the contract at a ceremony at the ministry, calling for the boats to be delivered successively over the next six to twelve months. The contract also includes an option to procure up to seven additional vessels of the same type in the future. Kikilias was direct about the reasoning behind the procurement. "We are living in difficult times, amid geopolitical instability," he said, adding that the Coast Guard's responsibilities are growing and that its personnel must have the most modern equipment available to carry out their duties. The minister also emphasized the strategic importance of building the boats domestically, arguing that self-sufficiency in vessel production is not a luxury but a necessity for a maritime nation like Greece. He pointed to the country's shipbuilding sector as growing stronger and said the programme would create jobs and invest in Greek expertise and workers. The new fleet will bolster Coast Guard operations covering maritime border control, search and rescue, fishing activity monitoring, and countering illegal activities across Greek waters. #Greece #HEllenicCoastGuard #MaritimeSecurity