In Portugal, the coast guard role is performed by several government agencies that, together, form the Maritime Authority System (Portuguese: Sistema de Autoridade Marítima, SAM). The SAM includes the Portuguese Navy, the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Portuguese Air Force, the Border and Immigration Service (SEF), the Civil Protection Authority, the National Medical Emergency Institute and the Criminal Investigation Police (PJ).

The National Maritime Authority (Portuguese: Autoridade Marítima Nacional) or AMN is the service responsible for coast guard duties within Portugal. Until 2014 the AMN had been a directly reporting agency of the Navy until it was separated that year, although the Navy still provides its personnel and vessels. The function of AMN is performed by the Chief of Staff of the Navy himself, supported in this role by the Directorate of the Maritime Authority, which includes the Maritime Police, the Lifeguard Institute, the Lighthouse Department and the several harbourmasters. Besides the specific assets of the Directorate of Maritime Authority entirely dedicated to the coast guard role, the AMN also has at its disposal the other Portuguese Navy's assets that can be used both for military and public service missions.^[1]

The vessels operated within the SAM include the Maritime Police patrol boats, the Lifeguard Institute lifeboats, the harbourmasters’ harbour boats, the GNR Coastal Control Unit's surveillance boats and the Portuguese Navy's naval ships. The aircraft operated within the SAM include fixed-wing aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force and helicopters from the Navy, the Air Force and the Civil Protection Authority.

Vessels

In addition to the vessels in the list below, all the Portuguese Navy ships also belong to the Maritime Authority System.

Class/Name	Origin	Image	Pennant number	Notes
Rescue vessels
Vigilante class	Portugal		UAM 601 UAM 602 UAM 603 UAM 604	A total of 7 ships planned, with 4 built and 1 under construction in Arsenal do Alfeite.[2][3]
Rainha D. Amélia class	Spain		UAM 689 UAM 690 UAM 691 UAM 692 UAM 693 UAM 694 UAM 695 UAM 696	A total of 8 units received between 1997 and 2000, built by Rodman Polyships.[4]
National Republican Guard
Bojador class	Netherlands		PO1 BOJADOR	Received in 2021, it is the first National Republican Guard vessel with off-shore surveillance capability. Build by Damen Group.[5]
Ribamar class	Portugal		LVI-11 RIBAMAR LVI-12 ATALAIA LVI-13 CONSOLAÇÃO LVI-14 AZÓIA LVI-21 BURGAU LVI-22 SALEMA LVI-23 ZAVIAL LVI-24 MINDELO LVI-40 APÚLIA LVI-41 MURANZEL LVI-42 BUARCOS LVI-43 CABEDELO	Class consisting of 12 high-speed boats for interception and coastal surveillance.[6]
Zodíaco class	Portugal		LFA ZODÍACO LFA ARIES LFA CANCER LFA LIBRA LFA SCORPIUS LFA CAPRICORNUS LFA AQUARIUS	Vessels used for river and coastal surveillance, build by Nautiber.[6]
Rodman 33	Spain		MAR CRETA MAR JÓNICO	Vessels used for river and coastal surveillance.[7][8]
Falcão da Madeira			FALCÃO DA MADEIRA	Vessel used by the National Republican Guard in the Madeira islands.[9]
Mar Egeu			MAR EGEU	[10]
Captaincy vessels
Bolina class	Portugal		UAM 650 UAM 651	Built by Arsenal do Alfeite in 2005.[2]
Golfinho	Portugal		UAM 610	[11]
Teresa Paula	Portugal		UAM 618
Serreta	Portugal		UAM 623
Santa Maria	Portugal		UAM 626	[12]
Levante	Portugal		UAM 631	Built by Arsenal do Alfeite.[13]
Tufão	Portugal		UAM 639	Built by Arsenal do Alfeite. This class was composed by 3 vessels.[14]
Suão	Spain		UAM 646	Built by Rodman Polyships. This class was composed by 8 vessels.[15]
Macareu	Spain		UAM 647
Preia Mar	Spain		UAM 648
Madeira			UAM 697	Vessel seized in 2005 and reverted to the Maritime Police, can be equipped with G3 rifles. Entered active service in 2018.[16]
Other vessels
Vale do Zebro	Portugal		UAM101	Rigid inflatable boat in active duty since 2008, armed with an MG 3 machine gun.[17]
Tróia	Portugal		UAM102	Rigid inflatable boat in active duty since 2008, armed with an MG 3 machine gun.[18]
Destemor	Portugal		UAM103	Rigid inflatable boat in active duty since 2015, armed with an MG 3 machine gun.[19]
LDM 400	Portugal		UAM122	In active duty since 1997
UAM Creoula	Portugal		UAM201	In active duty since 1987
Dom Fernando II e Glória	Portugal		UAM203	It served the Portuguese Navy between 1845 and 1878. Since 1998 it belongs to the Navy Museum.
Vazante	Portugal		UAM687	Both active since 1994 and used to combat marine pollution.[20]
Enchente	Portugal		UAM688
Atlanta	Portugal		UAM802	In active duty since 1984[21][22]
Fisália	Portugal		UAM805	In active duty since 1985[23][24]
Mindelo	Portugal		UAM810	In active duty since 1996[25]
Niassa	Portugal		UAM811	In active duty since 1996
Cacheu	Portugal		UAM812	In active duty since 1996[25]
Canopus	Portugal		UAM814	In active duty since 2006[26]
Sável	Portugal		UAM830	In active duty since 1991[27]
Condor	Portugal		UAM840	In active duty since 1981[28]
Albacora II	Portugal		UAM852	In active duty since 1980 [29]
Alva	Portugal		UAM901	In active duty since 1985 [30]
Zêzere	Portugal		UAM913	In active duty since 1983 [31]
Sorraia			UAM919	In active duty since 2009 [32]

References