Twenty new patrol cars were delivered to the Greek Coast Guard on Thursday, the first of a total of 65 that were acquired to reinforce its ranks. The new vehicles were presented in a ceremony attended by Shipping and Aegean Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and Coast Guard chief Vice-Admiral Athanassios Athanasopoulos.

The new vehicles, the total cost of which is 1,586,715 euros, were ordered through an open international tender and helped in the prompt absorption of funds from the EU External Borders Fund (which contributed 95% of the funding) and 5% from national funds.

“Our primary concern is to renew the equipment and reinforce the Coast Guard’s strength in personnel for the multifaceted challenges it faces. In this effort we are making use of funds from the EU External Borders Fund so that the country is adequately protected on its sea borders and coastal zones,” Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed.