Greek Shipowners Donate 10 Patrol Boats to the Hellenic Coast Guard

The Union of Greek Shipowners (EEE) donated to the country’s Coast Guard 10 state-of-the-art high-speed boats that will be built in Greece based on an Icelandic design, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Friday.
The statement was made following a meeting the Greek leader held with shipowners in Athens.
The first five boats will be ready by summer 2020 and the remaining five within the first quarter of 2021.
Based on unique Icelandic hull design, the ”Rafnar 1100 Cabin Bulletproof” boats are designed to withstand all weather conditions and keep an even keel in rough seas.

Θέλω να ευχαριστήσω την Ένωση Ελλήνων Εφοπλιστών για την άμεση ανταπόκρισή τους στο αίτημά μας να ενισχύσουν το Λιμενικό Σώμα. Η δωρεά 10 νέων πλήρως εξοπλισμένων σκαφών θα συνδράμει ουσιαστικά στον αποτελεσματικότερο έλεγχο των θαλασσίων συνόρων μας. https://t.co/oQZOhJX0wk pic.twitter.com/VWL7uO0HRE

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) November 22, 2019

According to their specifications, they are unsinkable, with a bulletproof cabin and space to accommodate the transfer of sick and injured people.
With a maximum speed of 56 knots per hour, the boats also include thermal cameras and have been tested in North Atlantic waters.
The gift through the EEE’s “Syn-Enosis” social welfare company, which was established in 2016, “will support significantly Greece’s efforts for a more effective patrolling of maritime borders, at an extremely critical time,” Premier Mitsotakis said. He thanked the shipowners and said they as individuals and an association “continue a great tradition of serving their home country.”
Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and Shipping Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis signed the related gift agreement, in the presence of Coast Guard chief, Vice Admiral Theodoros Kliaris.
Speaking on behalf of both EEE and Syn-Enosis, Theodore Veniamis said that “shipping, one of the major production pillars of our country, affirms its commitment to helping effectively and in several ways the difficult work of the Greek government in facing our era’s challenges and stand beside society’s needs.”
He also thanked his fellow shipowners for responding quickly to the fundraising call.
(With information from AMNA)