Functions and duties of the Coast Guard

(1) The Coast Guard shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, primarily be employed as a military service organization, being the naval force for the defence of Belize and protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and rights in relation to the maritime areas of Belize. (2) Subject to sub-section (4), the Coast Guard and each thereof shall, without derogating from the 7 investigatory, prosecutorial or law enforcement powers of he Commissioner of Police, also have, exercise and enjoy– (a) all the powers, authorities, privileges and immunities of the police under section 4 of the Police Act, and when acting as such shall be deemed to be police for the purposes of that section; (b) the powers of arrest, apprehension and detention conferred upon authorised persons under section 18 of the Maritime Areas Act; CAP. 11. (c) the prescribed powers of arrest, investigation, inspection and detention specified in section 19 of the Maritime Areas Act. CAP. 11. (3) The powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be for the purpose of the enforcement of Belize’s maritime laws, maritime security, maritime safety and marine resource protection in relation to the maritime areas of Belize, and in particular the enforcement, or assistance in the enforcement of the provisions of any law relating to– (a) customs and revenue collection; (b) border management and immigration; (c) quarantine; (d) ports and harbours; (e) fisheries protection; (f) marine resources & environmental protection; (g) safety of navigation including inland waterways and aids to navigation; 8 (h) marine pollution; (i) Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR); (j) port security; (k) recreational boating safety; (l) Port State Control; (m) Port Safety; (n) maritime crime and violence; (o) drug trafficking; (p) arms or ammunition trafficking; (q) human smuggling or human trafficking; (r) transnational criminal activity; (s) maritime terrorism; (t) maintaining territorial integrity and sovereignty of Belize sea spaces; (u) naval defence of Belize; (v) enforcement of all maritime conventions that the State is party to including, but not limited to those such as or, as the case may be, relating to the following: (i) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); (ii) Maritime Pollution (MARPOL); 9 (iii) Oil Spill Prevention Response and Cooperation (OPRC); (iv) the International Load Lines Convention (ILA); (v) United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); (vi) Standards of Training Certificate and Watch Keeping for Seafarers (STCW); (vii) the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code); (viii) the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code); (ix) the Tonnage Convention. (4) In performing its functions under sub-sections (2) and (3) in relation to any matter, where the Coast Guard is not the department with responsibility for that matter, the Coast Guard and its members shall act in consultation and coordination with the responsible department, except in a case of emergency, as determined by the Commandant or other officer who at the time is in command of the Coast Guard.