General

The Netherlands Coastguard is an independent civil organization with its own tasks, reponsibilities and competences. The Coastguard carries out tasks on the North Sea for five ministeries: Infrastructure and Environment, Defence, Safety and Justice, Finance and Economic Affairs.

The Netherlands Coastguard is responsible for fifteen operational tasks on the North Sea. The operational command has been assigned to the Director Coastguard. To carry out these tasks the Governmental Shipping Company and some participating departments have placed nautical and aeronautical assets at the disposal of the Netherlands Coastguard.
The Den Helder Operations Centre is manned 24 hours a day and functions as a central reporting, information and coördination centre and is also the National Maritime and Aeronautical Rescue Centre (Joint RCC).