On 16 June, the European Union and  the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) donated four modern boats to Georgia’s Coast Guard.

These rapide response boats with a total cost of around 5 million laris will be deployed in Poti and Batumi. They will support the Coast Guard in patrolling coastal waters and conducting effective search and rescue operations, as well as to enhance interdiction capabilities. 

The main technical specifications of the boats have been tailored to the needs of the Coast Guard to ensure compatibility with the maritime surveillance equipment and systems already in place in Georgia.

“Safe and secure borders are key for citizens in Georgia, as in any country. Ensuring security of and around the Black Sea – the physical bridge between the EU and Georgia – is a shared priority for both Georgia and the EU,” said Catalin Gherman, from the EU Delegation to Georgia, during the ceremony in Poti.

The boats were donated within the project ‘Support to Integrated Border Management in Georgia’, implemented by the IOM in the framework of the EU’s ‘EU4 Security, Accountability and Fight against Crime in Georgia’ (SAFE) programme.

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Press release

Lieutenant Ruslan Dolidze, Senior Inspector of the Boarding Team of the MIA Border Police Coast Guard Department, successfully completed a one-year Navy Officer’s Course at the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).

The graduation ceremony, held in Dartmouth, was attended by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

From the Georgian side, the Director of the Border Police Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze attended the graduation ceremony. CAPT Papidze congratulated the Coast Guard Officer on the successful completion of the course and wished him success in his career.

Within the framework of his visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Director of the Coast Guard Department held various working meetings. CAPT Papidze met with the Deputy Commander for NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), Vice Admiral Didier Piaton, Commander of the Britannia Royal Naval College, CAPT Roger Readwin, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sophie Katsarava.

The officers of MIA Border Police Coast Guard Department detained Vessel HONG FA SHANG HAI, a cargo ship sailing under the flag of China in the Georgian territorial waters, for violating the rules of navigation.

The captain of the ship, who is a Chinese citizen, was charged by the Operative-Investigation Main Division of the Border Police for violating the rules of navigation per Article 114, Part 1, Paragraph 1, Sub-paragraph “T” of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.

The captain of the ship was fined 50,000 GEL. After paying the fine, the ship was allowed to sail freely.

MIA Border Police Coast Guard and NATO Naval Unit ships conducted the joint naval exercise in the Black Sea.

In the framework of the multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze 2021, the boarding teams of the MIA Border Police Coast Guard Department, together with their Ukrainian counterparts, conducted joint exercises.

The Royal Navy ship HMS DEFENDER has arrived at the Batumi Port. The Director of the MIA Border Police Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze, the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Tornike Rizhvadze and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton met with the Commander of the ship, CAPT Vince Owen and the crew at Batumi Port.

Nikoloz Tvildiani and Sandro Stazhadze-United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) students sponsored by Georgia's Interior Ministry-were congratulated on the completion of their courses and awarded diplomas by US President Joe Biden, at the academy's graduation ceremony.
USCGA graduates Nikoloz Tvildiani and Sandro Stazhadze are the first cadets endorsed by Georgia's Interior Ministry to study at the US Coast Guard Academy who, after the successful completion of a bachelor's degree program, will serve as Coast Guard service members.
A total of 240 students graduated this year from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), with two Georgians: Nikoloz Tvildiani and Sandro Stazhadze among 7 foreign graduates. The Coast Guard Academy is among the top ten military academies in the US. The Interior Ministry of Georgia, in light of its purview, became involved in the selection of USCGA entrants for the first time in 2017. Four years ago, only Nikoloz Tvildiani and Sandro Stazhadze were accepted to USCGA after excelling in a demanding competition.

USCGC HAMILTON (WMSL 753) has entered the Batumi Port. The Director of the Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze, and the Chairman of the Government of Adjara, Tornike Rijvadze hosted the U.S. delegation. This is reported by the administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

The ship's visit serves to strengthen the security cooperation between the United States and Georgia, promote regional peace and stability, and emphasize the importance of the Black Sea for Euro-Atlantic security.

It is the first time the USCGC HAMILTON visited Georgia. The Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is hosting the ship in the territorial waters of Georgia.

Before entering the Batumi Port, the USCGC HAMILTON and the Georgian Coast Guard ships DIOSCURIA and OCHAMCHIRE took part in joint naval exercises. The exercise included naval tactical manoeuvres, search-and-rescue procedures, and other training elements using the USCGC helicopter. Joint training helps to increase interoperability between the U.S. and Georgian Coast Guard units.

In the framework of the visit, the Head of the Coast Guard Department, CAPT Ramaz Papidze will hold a meeting with the Commander of the ship, CAPT Tim Cronin at the Batumi Division. The crew members are scheduled to visit the Poti base of the Coast Guard Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Joint Maritime Operations Center (JMOC). American colleagues will host the Georgian delegation on the USCGC HAMILTON.

The US Coast Guard ship will leave the Batumi Port on May 6.