La traducción de “coast guard” al español es guardacostas o guardia costera. [1, 2]

Aquí tienes los detalles principales:

• Términos comunes: “Guardacostas” (frecuentemente usado en plural, los guardacostas) o “Guardia Costera” (f, sing.).
• Guardia Costera de EE.UU.: Se traduce comúnmente como Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos o United States Coast Guard (USCG).
• Contexto en España: La agencia encargada de estas funciones se llama Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (también conocida como SASEMAR o Salvamento Marítimo). [1, 2, 3]

Ejemplos de uso:

• The Coast Guard is searching for the vessel. \(\rightarrow \) La guardia costera está buscando la embarcación.
• He joined the Coast Guard. \(\rightarrow \) Se unió a los guardacostas. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Nearly all coastal nations maintain some form of maritime law enforcement or rescue service, though the exact number of official “coast guard” agencies varies by definition. As of 2026, over 80 distinct coast guard organizations are recognized globally. [1, 2, 3]

The Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) is a primary international forum for these agencies, with its most recent major meeting involving 84 organizations from 75 different countries. [1, 2]

Major Global Coast Guard Entities

While many nations have small fleets, a few stand out for their size and international reach: [1, 2, 3]

• China Coast Guard (CCG): Currently maintains the largest coast guard fleet in the world. It serves as the primary maritime security and law enforcement branch of China’s People’s Armed Police.
• United States Coast Guard (USCG): Often cited as the world’s 12th largest naval force if measured as a navy. As of 2024–2025, it consists of approximately 41,700 active-duty personnel, 7,800 reservists, and over 8,000 civilians. It maintains a presence in over 160 countries for various missions.
• Other Notable Services:
  • Japan Coast Guard: A major regional power that co-hosts international summits.
  • Indian Coast Guard: One of the world’s largest, protecting a massive coastline and exclusive economic zone.
  • European Agencies: Services like the Spanish Salvamento Marítimo (rescue focus) and Guardia Civil (law enforcement focus), and the Swedish Coast Guard. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Global Scope and Roles

Coast guards globally typically share several core responsibilities:

1. Maritime Law Enforcement: Countering smuggling, illegal fishing, and piracy.
2. Search and Rescue (SAR): Saving lives and property in maritime distress situations.
3. Environmental Protection: Responding to oil spills and hazardous material leaks.
4. Navigational Aids: Maintaining lighthouses, buoys, and other transit markers. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Would you like to compare the fleet sizes or budgets of the world’s top three coast guards?

There is no single global total for coast guard personnel, as duties are handled by various navies, police forces, or specialized agencies across different nations. However, over 84 organizations from roughly 75 countries with coast guard duties participate in global summits, with the U.S. Coast Guard being one of the largest, boasting over 40,000 active-duty members. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key insights on global coast guard presence:

• Participants: The Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) includes dozens of nations, such as the Japan Coast Guard, Canada Coast Guard, and various national navies or maritime police units.
• U.S. Coast Guard Strength: As of 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) consists of approximately 41,700 active-duty personnel, 7,800 reservists, and 8,300 civilian employees.
• Global Presence: The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a global presence, including major units like Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) and Activities Far East.
• Diverse Structures: Many countries, including India, Philippines, and various European nations, have dedicated coast guards, while others utilize their navy or police for these roles. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]