The Korea Coast Guard (KCG; Korean: 해양경비안전본부; Hanja: 海洋警備安全本部, Revised Romanization: Haeyang-gyeongbi-anjeon-bonbu, literally Maritime Security and Safety Headquarters) is responsible for maritime safety and control off the coast of South Korea. The KCG was an external branch of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at peacetime. Recently, with continuous border crossings by Chinese watercraft, the Korean Coast Guard had deployed a significant number of heavy vessels to the Yellow Sea.