Kukri
Well-Known Member
I wonder why Border Force have this sort of small warship.
Seen on the Orwell yesterday afternoon
- Thread starter Kukri
- Start date
I wonder why Border Force have this sort of small warship.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
Mainly the size is necessary to ensure nearly all-weather operational capability, and relatively long endurance. Hence the emphasis on crew comfort rather than RN's "tolerance" design.. Also considerable fire response and rescue resources.
My nephew, who is with Border Force, would not be drawn on the facilities for intercepting and halting believed criminal vessels. but if I were a drugs or people smuggler and one of the HMC craft turned up, I would be reluctant to disobey flag Lima.
My nephew, who is with Border Force, would not be drawn on the facilities for intercepting and halting believed criminal vessels. but if I were a drugs or people smuggler and one of the HMC craft turned up, I would be reluctant to disobey flag Lima.
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
The Border Force crews are unarmed civilians. The vessel's ' gun' only fires seawater.
That doesn't mean there are no weapons on board though.. I recently saw a soldierly type in a green beret on Seeker, which must mean Royal Marines or at least someone who's done the all arms commando course AFAIK.
They don't really 'patrol' the Dover Strait, except the occasional run down to Dungeness and back ( the AIS is on).
I have been tied up next to them for a couple of weeks, I wonder if the public know they spend 99.5% of their time in harbour?
That doesn't mean there are no weapons on board though.. I recently saw a soldierly type in a green beret on Seeker, which must mean Royal Marines or at least someone who's done the all arms commando course AFAIK.
They don't really 'patrol' the Dover Strait, except the occasional run down to Dungeness and back ( the AIS is on).
I have been tied up next to them for a couple of weeks, I wonder if the public know they spend 99.5% of their time in harbour?
PilotWolf
Well-Known Member
The last one I remeber seeing was aground outside the Southampton oceanahry building. Trying to bow thrust of the mud...
I'd love to be the skipper on one though.
W.
I'd love to be the skipper on one though.
W.
pvb
Well-Known Member
There used to be a regular Border Force visitor at Shotley, staying overnight. Now, if you were a people smuggler, would you land people in broad daylight, or at night?
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
Broad daylight, from my boat, at an Old Gaffers Association event. The unkempt beards, sandals and strange language would blend right in!
pvb
Well-Known Member
Antony Collis
Well-Known Member
Warship?
I thought that was a ferry.
I thought that was a ferry.
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
In the days before the cutters were bought back from the Med, the one based in Ramsgit never left port at weekends....
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
"Call that a customs cutter?.."
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I believe that you are thinking of "Alert" Peter. She is a 20m RIB, one of eight built, allegedly the largest RIBs in the World. I'm currently engaged in the electrical part of a significant refit on one of her sister ships (not owned by border force).
pks1702
Well-Known Member
Having a doze on a balmy summer evening and get woken up by this 
pvb
Well-Known Member
That's the one! It should be out patrolling at night, not tucked up in a marina berth.
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
IMO not really a true rib though as its initial buoyancy/stability doesn't come from the tubes. Just a big boat with a large, all-round, inflated fender.
Agree with the rest of your statement!
Edit: Sorry - It was PR who described it as a RIB
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
We were asked to heave too by the Alert when we brought a Yaught from the Hamble to Felixstowe. See her bear down on you and address you over the loud speaker was an interesting experience
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
The company that built the seem to think they are RIB's.
Here's one being recovered by the mothership.
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
I heard some loose gossip they are ex-oil industry rescue craft, sold off because they were NBG for some reason. Wouldn't surprise me.
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
The "warship" is a cutter - started life (when HMRC was two separate organisations - Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise) they used to focus on the customs side of things. These days play a dual role. As others have said - unarmed unless accompanied by members of the armed forces. Very few of them (5 or 6 I think) of that size given the fact that we're a nation with a sea-border.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
There were eight built, for North Sea oil field rescue, for BP. Six man crew with the lower deck being a 21 patient hostpital. Don't think they saw much use, so were retired and sold off. Very well built and equipped, capable of operation at speed in big seas, or so they say. Phase one of the refit is almost complete, she should be launched and brought around to the East Coast soon, i'll see how well she really does go then
Ohlin Karcher
N/A
That will be fun, her sea trials!There were eight built, for North Sea oil field rescue, for BP. Six man crew with the lower deck being a 21 patient hostpital. Don't think they saw much use, so were retired and sold off. Very well built and equipped, capable of operation at speed in big seas, or so they say. Phase one of the refit is almost complete, she should be launched and brought around to the East Coast soon, i'll see how well she really does go then