Guarding the coast
Off our coast, our patrol ships carry out police tasks at sea. We conduct fisheries inspections and detect pollution. Together with the federal police and customs, we also combat illegal trade and smuggling. In addition, our Navy also regularly sets sail to locate and rescue people in distress at sea.
Our mission
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Our coastline may only be 67 kilometres long, but maritime traffic in our Belgian waters is among the busiest in the world. Our patrol vessels regularly escort and shadow non-NATO ships transiting through our coastal waters.
To ensure the safety of a maritime zone covering no less than 3,500 km², our patrol vessels cross our waters day and night. We control shipping traffic, act against smuggling, illegal fishing and environmental crimes, and support search and rescue missions.
Background
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In the Zeebrugge Naval Base, we host the Maritime Information Crossroads (MIK). There, we collaborate with the Federal Public Service Mobility, customs, and the police. Together, we safeguard safety, order, and sovereignty at sea.
We also provide two coastal patrol vessels: the Castor and the Pollux. They will be reinforced by a third patrol ship as of 2027. The Vega will have advanced navigation systems and equipment, adapted to the increasingly complex assignments. This will greatly improve our flexibility and operational readiness.
Impact today
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In a time of geopolitical instability and fast-growing critical infrastructure in the North Sea, vigilance is not a luxury, but a necessity. Escort missions for non-NATO ships have tripled in recent years.