UK Border Agency's Vessel Sentinel

The UK Border Agency's fleet of patrol boats are known as cutters.

A single vessel from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the Sentinel, is responsible for patrolling almost 3000 miles of Scotland’s coastline, on the lookout for illegal drugs, counterfeit cigarettes, untaxed alcohol, to search and detect prohibited and restricted goods, and prevent tax fraud, by searching all types of vessels.

The fleet currently consists of five vessels:

Sentinel, Seeker, Searcher, Vigilant and Valiant            

Most of the time, the cutters are deployed on a risk-led or intelligence-led basis to control general maritime traffic throughout UK waters. In the more remote areas and inaccessible areas, visited less often by land-based teams, they may be the only law enforcement tool available.

Other activities include strategic patrols, tactical response work, support for other departments and agencies, and participation in multi-agency operations in both UK and international waters. Although they operate mainly in UK waters, they have responded to deployments as from the Baltic to the Mediterranean.

Sentinel has just returned from operational commitments and is seen here approaching Leith for some well deserved R & R.

KV Bergen

Our first ‘Military’ vessel to Leith of 2012 was the Norwegian Coastguard (Kystvakt) KV Bergen.

KV Bergen (W341) – with her sister vessels KV Barentshav (W340) and KV Sortland (W342)– are by far the world’s most energy efficient and environmentally friendly Coast Guard Vessels, primarily due to the use of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as its primary source of fuel. The Hybrid solution with a large MDO (marine diesel oil) engine in addition ensures relatively high speed (max 20 knots) and towing performance when so required. This, along with an optimized hull with very low resistance through the water again optimizes fuel consumption during the vessels main operations – patrolling at low speed in rough waters.

All three are high-tech, multi-purpose, ice strengthened ships with hybrid propulsion and a very real towing capability. Their formidable range of duties includes patrolling, rescue, fire fighting, oil recovery and towing.

Each 93m vessel is powered by a conventional controllable pitch propeller and fixed nozzle driven either mechanically by the main engine running on marine diesel oil (MDO) or by a combined electric motor/shaft generator using power from four generator sets fuelled by LNG. In full ‘hybrid’ mode the main propulsion system can be powered by a combination of both main diesel engine and electric drive motor. To achieve the latter, the propeller is driven via a reduction gearbox incorporating an input coupling from the diesel main engine and a second coupling for the electric motor/shaft generator.

The double skinned hull incorporates a bulbous bow and is optimised to offer very low resistance through the water, reducing fuel consumption during the ship’s main mode of operation, which is patrolling at low speed in rough waters. In ‘hybrid’ mode KV Bergen and her sister ships can attain a maximum speed of 20 knots, or 18 knots on diesel power alone and 15 knots on electric drive and gas powered generators. The reduction in NOX emission when using LNG is measured at around 90% compared to MDO. Likewise, the reduction in CO2 emission is measured at 25%.

All three ships are fitted with Dynamic Positioning systems. A high standard of manoeuvrability, particularly a low speed, is achieved by fitting transverse thrusters of 736kW fore and aft and a retractable azimuthing thruster of 883kW in the bow.

A maximum bollard pull of 100 tons is available and a full outfit of towing gear is installed. The main hydraulic towing winch has a maximum brake holding load of 250 tons, a line pull of 70 tons, and carries 2000m of Kevlar/Dextron towline. Included in the towing and line handling gear is a 15 ton tugger winch, two sets of hydraulically operated towing pins and one set of ‘Sharks jaws’, all rated at 120 tons SWL.

All three new vessels have a comprehensive array of communications and navigational equipment. Accommodation to a high standard is provided for up to 40 persons. The ships are normally manned by a mix of civilian and military personnel.

KV Bergen was delivered to the Norwegian owner Remøy Management AS in the spring of 2010.

KV Bergen has been in Leith before click HERE for more info

She is seen here approaching Leith locks on Sunday 12^th February 2012