• The SKNDF Coast Guard evolved from the days of the Customs Revenue Cutters and Police Launch.

– Concentrated mostly on illegal imports of rum from St. Eustatius and St.Maarten.

In the year 1985, the government acquired the Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Stalwart.
– Received under a Partner Nations assistance programme following the US
invasion of Grenada on 25 October 1983.
– Primary use was drug interdiction to aid US agenda on War on Drugs.

In the year 1986, the government acquired additional assets. These included several

smaller vessels under the US-Caribbean Security Cooperation.

– Primarily used for drug interdiction of faster crafts

– For increasing Search and Rescue (SAR) operations

On 1 st October 1997, the Coast Guard was transferred from the command of the Police

to the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force and became the SKNDF Coast Guard.