MONROVIA — The European Union has handed over two state-of-the-art patrol boats and specialized technical equipment to the Government of Liberia in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s maritime security capabilities and enhancing the operational readiness of the Liberia Coast Guard.
The handover, which took place on June 19 under the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) Project, included two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and forensic investigation kits designed to improve law enforcement and security operations at sea.
The approximately nine-meter RHIBs, built by Spain-based Narwhal Boats SL, are designed to operate in demanding maritime conditions. The vessels can attain speeds of up to 54 knots and travel up to 200 nautical miles at maximum speed.
Equipped with modern communication, navigation, and surveillance systems, the boats are capable of conducting a range of missions, including search and rescue operations, coastal patrols, maritime interdiction, fisheries inspections, and maritime law enforcement activities.
In addition to the patrol vessels, the European Union provided two forensic material kits intended to support the collection, preservation, and transmission of evidence in maritime crime investigations. Officials say the equipment will strengthen judicial processes and improve the prosecution of crimes committed within Liberia’s maritime domain.
According to a release, the donation underscores the continued partnership between the European Union and the Government of Liberia in promoting security sector reform, strengthening the rule of law, and enhancing maritime governance.
While the Liberia Coast Guard will assume responsibility for operating and maintaining the vessels, the boats are also expected to support joint operations involving maritime law enforcement agencies, counter-narcotics efforts, fisheries protection, and other national security activities.
The EU-funded initiative will conclude later this year with a regional maritime exercise in the Gulf of Guinea, coordinated by a Portuguese Navy Ocean Patrol Vessel. The Liberia Coast Guard is expected to participate alongside neighboring countries, including Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, which have also benefited from similar maritime security support programs.
Officials say improved maritime security is essential to protecting fisheries, safeguarding coastal communities, preserving natural resources, and strengthening the rule of law at sea, all of which contribute to sustainable economic development.
The European Union also recognized the contributions of Camões, I.P., and the Portuguese Navy for their role in implementing the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen maritime security capacity in the Gulf of Guinea.
Background
Liberia’s support package forms part of the West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) program, which seeks to implement the ECOWAS maritime security strategy, strengthen the Yaoundé Architecture, and enhance cooperation at national, regional, and interregional levels.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Liberia and Camões, I.P. of Portugal was signed on June 27, 2022.
As part of the program, Liberia Coast Guard personnel underwent specialized maritime training in Portugal between September and November 2023. An implementation mission was conducted in Monrovia in November 2024, followed by additional training sessions in March and April 2025 covering maritime criminality, boarding procedures, search and rescue operations, fisheries inspection, and marine pollution response.
A total of 32 personnel participated in the training exercises. Harbor Acceptance Tests and Sea Acceptance Trials for the vessels were successfully completed in January 2026, with final operations and maintenance training conducted in May 2026.
