The Bermuda Police Service has just signed a contract for the purchase of a new Police vessel, designed to head up the Marine Police fleet and replace our current ‘Blue Heron’.

This is not a recent initiative, but has been the subject of many hours of research and discussion to establish a vessel to fulfill certain roles within the Police maritime area of responsibility.

The vessel is being built in Western Australia to a proven design for Police use. It will come with a very high standard of finish and is well equipped to perform its day to day duties. Primary roles include maritime patrol of the territorial waters of Bermuda, ports and harbour security, and search & rescue.

The vessel is a 16 meter aluminum mono hull boat that is purpose designed for Bermuda.

The boat will be based in Hamilton Harbour for general patrol, search & rescue, dive operations and general assistance to Police and government agencies in Bermuda's territorial waters. The new boat offers a significant range increase over the current vessel, which will soon be retired.

The vessel is:

• Aluminum construction.
• Designed and built to operate up to 200 nautical miles offshore.
• 400 nautical miles range at cruising speed (20 knots).
• Very extensive electronics package in order to fulfill duties as the principal search & rescue and surveillance authority in the region.

We expect this boat to be fully functional in Bermuda in September 2006.