The Norwegian Coast Guard, or Kystvakten in Norwegian, is a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, but has separate vessels, many of which are purpose-built. All Coast Guard vessels have the prefix KV. Four of these vessels are capable of embarking one or more helicopters. Norway's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard's area of responsibility, is about 2.2 million square kilometers, the largest in Western Europe.
The flag of the Coast Guard is the International Inspection Pennant as ratified by the North Sea Fisheries Convention of 1882. The Coast Guard was established 1 April 1977. Before that, the functions of a coast guard had been carried out by different organisations within the Royal Norwegian Navy. One of the oldest of these organisations were groups of navy ships organised to prevent foreign ships from fishing in Norwegian territorial waters. A Coast Guard division named Det Regionale Sjømilitære Fiskerioppsyn has now taken on that responsibility. Even earlier, no specialized guard system existed - guarding the home territorial waters was carried out by regular ships from the Navy itself, and it was not until after WWI that purpose-built vessels was constructed and commissioned.
After the Second World War, no dedicated guard and surveilaice ships were built until 1957, when three whaling boats bought from South-Georgia came into service as the Andenes-class; Andenes, Nordkapp and Senja. These ship names were later handed over to those of the Nordkapp-class in 1980. The new Nordkapp-class is still in commission today.
The Coast Guard Squadron South is made up from the following vessels:
Leikvin, Alesund, Nornen and Njord.
KV Leikvin is seen here in Leith following a patrol in the North Sea.
