Georgia: 4 patrol boats handed over to Border Police Coast Guard with support of EU and IOM

Georgia: Four high-speed small patrol boats of the “Defender” type equipped with modern technologies have been added to the Coast Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

The purchase and delivery of these boats were carried out with the financial assistance of the European Union (EU) within the framework of the project “SAFE” and in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In connection with the inclusion of boats in the Coast Guard, a solemn event was held at the Poti base of the Coast Guard Department of the Border Police, where the Director of the Coast Guard Department, Captain Ramaz Papidze, The Deputy Head, was hosted by Catalin Germany and the UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia – Sabine Makhli.

During the event, the boat commanders solemnly raised the Georgian state flags on the sailing units.

The boats are equipped with modern surveillance, navigation and communication systems. Their purpose is to patrol the ports and the territorial sea, control the implementation of the established legal regime and conduct search-and-rescue operations.

Ramaz Papidze, Director of the Coast Guard Department of the Border Police, Captain I, thanked the guests on behalf of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The EU actively continues to support the integrated border management process in Georgia, which includes the development and modernization of border management systems. The International Organization for Migration, in cooperation with the Border Police and with the funding of the European Union, plans to implement a number of important projects in the future.