This List of Border Force cutters is a listing of all cutters to have been commissioned by the Border Force and its predecessors since the amalgamation of HM Customs with the Excise department of the Inland Revenue in the early 20th century. During that time, the cutter service has been overseen successively by:
Prior to the formation of HM Customs and Excise in 1909, revenue cruisers of various types were operated in UK waters by various bodies: not only the separately constituted Boards of Customs and Excise, but also the Admiralty and the Coast Guard. [2]
For much of the 20th century, the Cutters were supplemented by a fleet of smaller 'launches'; but these were non-seagoing vessels, restricted to patrolling rivers and estuaries. [3]
In 1980 HMCE's Revenue Cutter Service was renamed the Customs Cutter Service. Thenceforward its vessels bore the ship prefix "HMCC" - Her Majesty's Customs Cutter (previously they had long been known as HM Revenue Cutters). [3] Following the flotilla's transfer to the UK Border Agency they were given the prefix "HMC" - Her Majesty's Cutter; all current vessels of the UK Border Force bear this prefix.
Currently the Border Force has a fleet of five ocean-going Cutters and six smaller 'Coastal Patrol Vessels' (CPVs). [4] All eleven vessels are due to be replaced, however a schedule for their replacement has not (as of March 2023) been announced. [5] In 2022 it was reported that additional boats and crews had been chartered (for up to six months at a time) from companies linked to the offshore wind industry. [6]
For the first part of the 20th century HM Customs and Excise made do with a single Customs Cutter: [2]
After 1928 no new Cutter was procured until after the Second World War, HMCE seeking instead to rely on its Launches.
Note: These smaller vessels are not listed as Cutters by UK Border Force. [4]
Note: These chartered vessels are not listed as Cutters by UK Border Force. [6]
HM Customs and Excise was a department of the British Government formed in 1909 by the merger of HM Customs and HM Excise; its primary responsibility was the collection of customs duties, excise duties, and other indirect taxes.
Vigilant can refer to:
The Waterguard was a division of HM Customs and Excise (HMCE) responsible for the control of vessels, aircraft, vehicles and persons arriving into and departing from the United Kingdom. This included crew members and passengers, as well as persons travelling on foot. Waterguard officers were responsible for applying the allowances provided for in law and for collection of customs and excise revenue on the excess. The officers were also responsible for the enforcement of the prohibitions and restrictions, including controlled drugs and plant and animal health. With the reorganization of HM Customs and Excise in 1972 the Waterguard was renamed the 'Preventive Service' and the functions of the Waterguard continued to be carried out as part of the HMCE until the establishment of the UK Border Agency in 2008.
HM Customs was the national Customs service of England until a merger with the Department of Excise in 1909. The phrase 'HM Customs', in use since the Middle Ages, referred both to the customs dues themselves and to the office of state established for their collection, assessment and administration.
United States Coast Guard Cutter is the term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. They are 65 feet (19.8 m) or greater in length and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. They carry the ship prefix USCGC.
The Marine Unit, formerly the Australian Customs Service National Marine Unit, is a division of the Australian Border Force which acts as a Coast Guard in guarding Australia's coast. The Marine Unit focuses on surveillance and response activities within the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone, and the operation and training of ships and crews to do so.
A number of vessels of the British revenue services, at times known as the Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise, HM Revenue and Customs, and most recently UK Border Agency, have been named Vigilant:[a]
HMC Vigilant is a Border Agency (customs) cutter of the United Kingdom. She was launched by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2003 and is one of four 42-metre (138 ft) cutters operated by the UK Border Force.
HMC Valiant is a Border Force (customs), formerly UK Border Agency, cutter of the United Kingdom. She was launched by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2003 and is one of four 42-metre (138 ft) cutters formerly operated by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, and since 2008 operated by the UK Border Agency and after its dissolution in 2013 operated by the UK Border Force.
The UKBF 42m Customs Cutter, formerly HMRC 42m Customs Cutter & UKBA 42m Customs Cutter, is a class of four patrol vessels, derived from the Dutch Damen Stan Patrol 4207 design, operated by the UK Border Force.
HMC Seeker is a Border Force (customs) cutter of the United Kingdom. She was launched by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2001 and is one of four 42-metre (138 ft) cutters formerly operated by HM Revenue and Customs, then from 2008 she was operated by the UK Border Agency and after its dissolution in 2013 operated by the Border Force.
HMC Searcher is one of four cutter ships operated by UK Border Force in the role of patrolling the waters of the United Kingdom. She was launched by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2002.
Border Force (BF) is a British law enforcement command within the Home Office, responsible for frontline border control operations at air, sea and rail ports in the United Kingdom. The force was part of the now defunct UK Border Agency from its establishment in 2008 until Home Secretary Theresa May demerged it in March 2012 after severe criticism of the senior management.
Australian Border Force Cutter (ABFC) Ocean Shield is an offshore patrol vessel operated by the Australian Border Force. The ship was originally ordered in 2010 by DOF Subsea as an offshore support vessel, and was laid down by STX OSV as MSV Skandi Bergen in 2011. In 2012, the Australian Department of Defence was seeking a short-term replacement for the decommissioned Kanimbla-class amphibious landing ships, and negotiated to purchase the under-construction Skandi Bergen from DOF Subsea. The ship was completed, and entered Royal Australian Navy (RAN) service in mid-2012 as the civilian-crewed Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Ocean Shield.
HMC Sentinel was a patrol ship operated by the Border Force in the role of patrolling the waters of the United Kingdom. It is a Vosper Thornycroft 'Island Class' vessel and was commissioned in 1993.
The Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta is the naval component of the Maltese military. The Maritime Squadron has responsibility for the security of Maltese territorial waters, maritime surveillance and law enforcement, as well as search and rescue. It is based at Hay Wharf in Floriana.
HMC Protector is a Border Force (customs) cutter of the United Kingdom, formerly the Tavi of the Finnish Border Guard. She was built by Uki Workboat in Finland and was acquired by the UK Border Force in 2013. After a period of refit, the vessel was commissioned by the then Home Secretary Theresa May on 17 March 2014. Protector replaced HMC Sentinel, which was retired in 2013.
HMC Eagle is a Border Force coastal patrol vessel of the United Kingdom, formerly Iain, an Autonomous Rescue and Recovery Craft operated by BP. She was originally built by Holyhead Marine, Stockport and was operated by BP as a rescue boat aboard larger offshore support vessels. Iain was acquired by the UK Border Force in June 2016 and renamed HMC Eagle.
HMC Active is a Border Force coastal patrol vessel of the United Kingdom, formerly David, an Autonomous Rescue and Recovery Craft operated by BP. She was built by Holyhead Marine, Holyhead and Delta Marine, Stockport and was operated by BP as a rescue boat aboard a larger offshore support vessels. David was acquired by the UK Border Force in October 2016 and renamed HMC Active.
HMC Nimrod is a Border Force coastal patrol vessel of the United Kingdom, formerly Euan, an Autonomous Rescue and Recovery Craft operated by BP. She was originally built by Delta Power Group, Stockport and was operated by BP as a rescue boat aboard larger offshore support vessels. Euan was acquired by the UK Border Force in July 2016 and renamed HMC Nimrod.