Coastguard Governance
The Coastguard is an independent organisation. We carry out tasks on behalf of six ministries. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for managing the Coastguard organization. The Ministry of Defence, for example, employs most of the staff at the Coastguard Centre. There are various levels of management within the organisation.
Ministries and agencies
The Coastguard carries out tasks on behalf of six ministries. Various ministerial agencies work with the Coastguard. It is important that the Coastguard fulfils its assigned tasks and that we work together within the partnership, which is why there are various consultation committees.
| Ministeries | Diensten |
| Ministry of Defence (manager of the Coastguard) | Royal Netherlands Marechaussee |
| Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth | State Supervision of Mines (SSM) |
| Ministry of Finance | Customs, Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service |
| Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (coordinating ministry for the Coastguard) | Rijkswaterstaat (Public Works and Water Management), Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) |
| Ministry of Justice and Security (coordinating ministry for law enforcement tasks) | Police, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee |
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature | Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) |
Who is in charge?
The Director of the Coastguard is a naval officer in the rank of Captain who, with the management team, ensures that the organisation carries out its tasks. The team that manages the organisation is known as the Interdepartmental Directors’ Consultation Committee for the Coastguard (Interdepartementaal Directeurenoverleg Kustwacht, IDOK). It is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation. The Coastguard also has a governing board, the Coastguard Council, which is responsible for taking all expansion, investment and new task decisions.
Coastguard plans
To do our job properly, every year we document our work methods and plans for the coming year. This is outlined in three separate plans.
- The enforcement plan is drawn up by the Permanent Liaison Group for North Sea Enforcement (Permanente Kontaktgroep Handhaving Noordzee, PKHN), which is chaired by the Ministry of Justice and Security. The PKHN includes representatives of the various government agencies we work with. The enforcement plan sets out how we keep the seas safe for maritime traffic and how we ensure that people and companies comply with environmental regulations.
- The service plan is drawn up by Rijkswaterstaat, Sea and Delta. It sets out, for example, how we escort maritime traffic, carry out search and rescue operations, and clarify shipping routes.
- The Maritime Security Plan is developed by the Permanent Contact Group for Maritime Security North Sea (Permanente Contactgroep Maritime Security Noordzee, PCMN). The plan sets out what we do to ensure national security. For example, we issue warnings when there is a risk of danger and accept piracy protection applications from shipowners.
Annual plan
The Director of the Coast Guard is involved in drawing up the three plans, combines them into a single annual plan, adds an activity plan and budget (APB) and sends it all to the Interdepartmental Directors’ Consultation Committee for the Coastguard (IDOK). The IDOK forwards these documents and the annual report to the Coastguard Council. Once the Coastguard Council has approved these documents, they are sent to the Council of Ministers.
Coordinating ministry
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is the coordinating ministry within the partnership. Its role is to manage the Coastguard and ensure that there are common plans and goals in place. It also monitors our compliance with agreements made with other ministries. The Ministry of Justice and Security is the coordinating ministry for supervision and enforcement.
Interdepartmental Directors’ Consultation Committee for the Coastguard (IDOK)
Besides our Director, the Director of Integrated Management & Business Operations (DIB&B) of the Royal Netherlands Navy is a member of the Interdepartmental Directors’ Consultation Committee for the Coastguard (IDOK), bears responsibility for the Coastguard’s buildings, materiel, personnel organisation and finances, and is sometimes referred to as the manager of the Coastguard. The Consultation Committee is chaired by the Chief Engineer-Director of Rijkswaterstaat, Sea and Delta. Other IDOK participants include:
- the chair of the Permanent Liaison Group for Law and Order in the North Sea (PKHN)
- the chair of the Permanent Liaison Group for Maritime Security in the North Sea (PCMN)
- a Customs representative
- a representative from the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth
- a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature
Coastguard Council
The Coastguard Council is the Coastguard’s governing board. It is made up of representatives of all the ministries for whom we carry out tasks. There is also a representative from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport on the Council who does not attend meetings but receives agendas and minutes. The Council makes decisions for the Coastguard on matters such as investments, staffing increases, and the replacement of ships and aircraft. The IDOK advises the Council.