Organisational structure and analysis of the contribution of the Coast Guard of the Republic of Croatia to maritime safety on the Adriatic Sea

This paper analyses the organisation and scope of activities of the Coast Guard of the Republic of Croatia. The Coast Guard of the Republic of Croatia is a military organisation with police authorities and is an integral part of the Croatian Navy. It is a task force whose basic purpose is to provide support to state administration bodies in charge of surveillance and protection of Croatian strategic, economic and other general national interests on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. It is necessary to stress that the Croatian Coast Guard is trained not only to carry out protection of national maritime interests but also to carry out combat tasks and to participate in joint operations in the national and international environment. This paper contributes in stressing the importance of the role of the Croatian Coast Guard and of investments in equipment and in human resource with the aim of maintaining maritime safety on the Adriatic Sea.