Argentine Naval Prefecture The Argentine Naval Prefecture , in Spanish Prefectura Naval Argentina or PNA , is a service of the Argentine Security Ministry charged with protecting the country ' s rivers and maritime territory . It therefore fulfills the functions of other countries ' coast guard s , and furthermore acts as a gendarmerie force policing navigable rivers . According to the Argentine Constitution , the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic cannot intervene in internal civil conflicts , so the Prefecture is defined as a civilian " security force of a military nature " . It maintains a functional relationship with the Ministry of Defense , as part of both the National Defense System and the Interior Security System . It therefore maintains capabilities arising from the demands required by joint military planning with the armed forces . History . Creation . The Prefecture ' s predecessor is the ports service founded by the first autonomous Argentine government in June 1810 , six years before Argentina declared independence . In Argentina this is considered the official founding date of the PNA . The first commander of the force was Colonel Martin Jacobo Thompson , a Porteño of partially English descent who had served against the British in the invasions of 1806 – 7 . Thompson was given the title of " Captain of Ports " ( Spanish : " " Capitán de Puertos " " ) . Although the PNA traces itself back to its predecessor of 1806 , the modern Prefecture was in fact founded in the late nineteenth century as the " National Maritime Prefecture " on the initiative of Manuel Florencio Mantilla , a well - known Argentine senator who was also a respected academic and intellectual . Falklands War . The Prefecture had a minor role in the Falklands War ( ) . As with other Argentine military services , participation in this conflict is given considerable weight in the institutional memory of the service . Two PNA patrol vessels , the " Islas Malvinas " ( GC - 82 ) and the " Rio Iguazu " ( GC - 83 ) , were sent to provide an Argentine coastguard service to the islands . According to Argentine sources , " Rio Iguazu " came into contact with a British Sea Harrier aircraft on 21 May and one member of the vessel ' s crew was killed while firing a 12 . 7 mm machine gun at the British jet . The ship ran aground , but most of its cargo - among them two 105 mm howitzer s - was recovered later . The crew of the patrol boat claimed the shooting down of the aircraft , but this was later proved to be unfounded . The sortie was actually carried out by two Sea Harriers of 800 Naval Air Squadron , Nº XZ460 and XZ499 , which strafed the vessel with 30 mm cannon fire . The patrol vessel " Islas Malvinas " was captured and operated by the Royal Navy , as HMS " Tiger Bay " . Illegal fishing . Today the Prefecture is constantly battling illegal fishing vessels in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone ( ZEE ) , mostly from eastern countries . The Argentine Naval Aviation also collaborates in detection of such ships with their P - 3 Orion and Beechcraft 200 " Cormoran " maritime surveillance aircraft . Chian - der 3 incident . The Sinking of the Chian - der 3 was an incident which occurred on 28 May 1986 when the Taiwanese flag naval trawler Chian - der 3 was detected , tracked , shot , set on fire and finally sunk by the PNA . The sinking was carried out by PNA vessel GC - 28 " Prefecto Derbes " . Two Taiwanese fishermen were killed ; four others were injured . The Taiwanese fishermen ' s union called the incident a " barbaric act " and the British government condemned it as " unjustifiable and excessive " . Organization . Headquarters . The PNA is subordinate to the Ministry of Interior . The organization is headed by the National Naval Prefect ( " Prefecto Nacional Naval " ) , currently Prefect - General Carlos Edgardo Fernandez , assisted by the Deputy National Naval Prefect ( " Subprefecto Nacional Naval " ) , currently Prefect - General Ricardo Rodriguez . The Prefecture ' s main facility is located in the Edificio Guardacostas ( which translates as " the Coastguard Building " ) at 235 E . Madero Avenue , Buenos Aires . The PNA headquarters is divided into three main departments , each headed by a Director - General with the rank of " Prefecto General " . These are each divided into a number of directorates , each headed by a Director with the rank of Prefect - General ( " Prefecto General " ) . the Intelligence Service ( " Servicio de Inteligencia " ) is directly responsible to the National Naval Prefect and is also headed by a Prefect - General . Regions . The PNA is divided into ten zones : Ranks . The highest rank of the service , Prefect - General , is held by both the National Naval Prefect and Deputy National Naval Prefect , as well as by many of the most senior officers of the prefecture , such as the heads of the different directrates of the national headquarters . While the rank itself equals that of Rear Admiral in the Argentine Navy , the National Naval Prefect and the Deputy National Naval Prefect titles are both equated to the ranks of Admiral and Vice Admiral , respectively , and wear corresponding insignia . Officer ranks are as follows : The non - commissioned officer and enlisted ranks of the Prefecture are as follows : Inventory . Main ships . Patrol Vessels . At least other 50 vessels on the 8 / 15 tn range Aircraft . The PNA operates a small air fleet of 17 aircraft , including 10 helicopters .