Quaint customs!

Richard B · 02 June 2005, 01:05

Guess what this vessel's got hidden up her, err, sleeve?!?

Richard B · 02 June 2005, 01:09

answer...

prairie tuber · 02 June 2005, 04:34

Is that a FB techno 40 tucked away there? Nice runabout!!!

Richard B · 02 June 2005, 07:02

Bit smaller than that... six or seven meter hull I think, with twin water jets.

Ribald · 02 June 2005, 07:14

Is that not the Customs (

) cutter that featured on the TV a while ago. There were some very impressive shots of the RIB being launched whilst travelling at 30+ knots.

Richard B · 02 June 2005, 07:38

Dunno, however a couple of years ago one of the monthly glossies (mebbe RIB International) featured a fisheries patrol vessel which launches and recovers in a similar way (ie under way at speed!).

Scotty · 02 June 2005, 09:33

The Irish customs have one as well. Inboard diesel from a opel car

they tell me. Still if they can catch the odd drug or gun runner then I'm happy.

Daniel · 02 June 2005, 10:05

Er... i've been chased by that boat. Out ran it aswell but they caught me before i could get the boat onto the trailer, as they would i suppose! Seriously fun...

codprawn · 02 June 2005, 11:50

Nice to see they take catching cigarette smugglers seriously..................

TQBoater · 02 June 2005, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Guess what this vessel's got hidden up her, err, sleeve?!?

Was that Sunday at Torquay then Richard ?

Alan · 02 June 2005, 13:06

Is that a gun on the bow of the mothership, covered up? Didn't think HMCE were armed?!

codprawn · 02 June 2005, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Is that a gun on the bow of the mothership, covered up? Didn't think HMCE were armed?!

yes didn't you know that cigarette smugglers were all in league with terrorist groups - or so Customs keep saying!!!

"Some of the UK's most organised criminal gangs are behind tobacco smuggling."

"These same gangs traffick cocaine, heroin and people."

"Anyone involved in selling or buying illicit cigarettes is helping fund these serious criminals."

And there's me thinking it was just lorry drivers bringing stuff back to make a few quid.................

tcwozere · 02 June 2005, 16:07

Figures from 2002/2003 reckon the smugglers are making 500 million a year.. link. Couldn't find any stats for 2005, but in 2004, the Gov lost around 3.6 billion in revenue..

Alan · 02 June 2005, 16:12

Hmm, Didnt think that HM Customs (who are now one with the Inland Revenue) were armed & this seems to bear it out....

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...CE_PROD_009395

(Scroll down for bit about customs cutters.)

So question is whats the gun shaped thing on the bows of the customs boat then?

Alan · 02 June 2005, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Is that a FB techno 40 tucked away there? Nice runabout!!!

Suspect that the RIB is a Delta of some sort. River police on the Thames have a very smart black Delta for anti-terrorist activities. I think Delta are a supplier of choice for law enforcement!

gavin · 02 June 2005, 19:50

Ah Richard , I knew apart from the same guy measuring our boats we had something else in common, both of us have owned ribs that have had the pleasure of transporting Alan and Laura.

As with the customs the Irish govt have a serious bit of kit caller Scrubidor, it means Examiner and it is approx 16m long and also carries a rib , launchable at speed

codprawn · 03 June 2005, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Hmm, Didnt think that HM Customs (who are now one with the Inland Revenue) were armed & this seems to bear it out....

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...CE_PROD_009395

(Scroll down for bit about customs cutters.)

So question is whats the gun shaped thing on the bows of the customs boat then?

Must be a harpoon to catch RIBS!!!!!

swginn · 03 June 2005, 11:09

Irish Customs version, a bit smaller, but still gets the job done!!

RIB is a Boomeranger 595 with Mercruiser 120hp