United Kingdom Chairmanship 2012

North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum

Southampton 16-19 April 2012

The North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF) meets bi-annually, the responsibility of hosting the Summit and Experts Meeting during a calendar year is rotated among member countries.  This year it is our turn to act as host nation  As host nation for NACGF 2012 the Chief Coastguard, Rod Johnson, is obliged to take on the role as Head of Delegation / President.  The NACGF is an informal organisation, bringing together representatives from North Atlantic / North European countries to facilitate multilateral cooperation on matters related to combined operations, illegal drug trafficking, marine security, environmental protection, information exchange, fisheries enforcement, illegal migration and search and rescue. The NACGF is also a forum for the exchange of technical expertise including, (but not limited to), maritime surveillance systems, equipment and shipbuilding.

The Annual Experts’ meeting will be held in April for 3 days  comprising of 1 day for working group discussion, 1.5 days for plenary meeting, and 0.5 day for a cultural tour (not including the registration day and departing day). At the Experts Meeting, subject matter specialists meet as Working Groups. The issues and Principals’ task direction from the annual Summit are refined and working materials are prepared and finalised.

The Annual Summit meeting will be held in October for 3 days comprising of 1 day for working group discussion, 1.5 days for a plenary meeting, and 0.5 day for a cultural tour (this doesn’t include the registration day and departing day). This meeting brings together the heads of participating Coast Guard agencies, or their equivalents, from member countries to review the work of the forum’s working groups, approve or amend decisions taken at the Experts Meeting and set out an action plan for the working groups in the year ahead that will become the basis of Forum combined operations and training.

During the Summit we, as the Host Nation, will arrange an exercise related to SAR and environmental response, the member countries will be invited to participate

The following countries are members of the NACGF: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States

For more information on the NACGF please email Sophie Turner:  sophie.turner@mcga.gov.uk

Please find below the links for the Experts Meeting

Agenda (25KB)

Participation and Accommodation (18KB)

Registration (58KB)

Transport Details (18KB)