HMRC Vigilant (1947)

Last updated

Hmrcvigilant1947.jpg
HMRC Vigilant in about 1959
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Benbecula
Namesake Benbecula
Builder Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Launched28 October 1943
Commissioned13 January 1944
FateSold March 1946.
History
HM Customs Ensign.svg United Kingdom
NameHMRC Vigilant
Acquired1946
FateSold 1964, hulked 1982
General characteristics
Class and type Isles-class naval trawler
Displacement545 long tons (554  t)
Length164 ft (50 m)
Beam27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Draught11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)
Installed power850  ihp (634 kW)
Propulsion
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement40

HMRC Vigilant was an Isles-class naval trawler, formerly HMS Benbecula, acquired by the HM Customs and Excise in 1946, and fitted out for service with the Customs.

She took part in many clandestine operations in co-operation with the Investigations Branch of HM Customs and Excise, against smuggling. Initially, from 1947 until 1953, she was based in Gravesend Reach on the River Thames, commanded by Peter de Neumann. In 1953 her base was moved to Southampton Water. Vigilant was ocean going and by far the largest vessel ever operated by HM Customs and Excise. Her Commander and Chief Officer each had to hold Foreign-Going Master's certificates, as well as receiving HM Customs Commissions. She sometimes voyaged to the fishing grounds of Newfoundland Banks, off Iceland, into the Baltic, and The North and Irish Seas.

The first ever live outside TV broadcast from a ship was made from her during the 1950 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) conference in Torquay. Stafford Cripps, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, lived and entertained aboard her during the conference.

Related Research Articles

HM Customs and Excise Former British government department

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.

HMS <i>Charybdis</i> (F75) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Charybdis (F75) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was built by the Harland & Wolff company of Belfast, and was the last ship to be built there for British naval forces until RFA Fort Victoria of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was launched in 1990. Charybdis was launched on 28 February 1968 and commissioned on 2 June 1969. Her nickname was "Cherry B".

HM Revenue and Customs Non-ministerial department of the UK Government

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of state support, the administration of other regulatory regimes including the national minimum wage and the issuance of national insurance numbers. HMRC was formed by the merger of the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which took effect on 18 April 2005. The department's logo is the St Edward's Crown enclosed within a circle.

Vigilant can refer to:

Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong) Department of the Hong Kong Government

The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) is a government agency responsible for the protection of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region against smuggling; the protection and collection of revenue on dutiable goods on behalf of the Hong Kong Government; the detection and deterrence of drug trafficking and abuse of controlled drugs; the protection of intellectual property rights; the protection of consumer interests; and the protection and facilitation of legitimate trade and upholding Hong Kong's trading integrity.

HM Customs

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.

HMS <i>Roebuck</i> (H95) R-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy

HMS Roebuck was an R-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was the fifteenth ship to carry this traditional ship name, after a small deer native to the British Isles, which was used as far back as the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

HMS <i>Verulam</i> (R28) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Verulam was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Vigilant</i> (R93) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Vigilant was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II.

HMS <i>Virago</i> (R75) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Virago was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that served in World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F76.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is an Indian intelligence agency. It is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency.

HMS <i>Aylmer</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Aylmer was a Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy that served during World War II. The ship was named after Matthew Aylmer, commander of HMS Royal Katherine at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 during the War of the Grand Alliance.

HM Excise

His or Her Majesty's Excise refers to 'inland' duties levied on articles at the time of their manufacture. Excise duty was first raised in England in 1643. Like HM Customs, the Excise was administered by a Board of Commissioners who were accountable to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. While 'HM Revenue of Excise' was a phrase used in early legislation to refer to this form of duty, the body tasked with its collection and general administration was usually known as the Excise Office.

Royal Malaysian Customs Department Malaysian Government department

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department, abbreviated RMC or JKDM, is the Malaysian Government agency responsible for administrating the nation's indirect tax policy, border enforcement and narcotic offences. In other words, KDRM administers seven (7) main and thirty-nine (39) subsidiary laws. Apart from this, KDRM implements 18 by-laws for other government agencies. KDRM is now known as JKDM when Ibrahim Jaapar took over as the leader of the department in 2009.

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:

HMC <i>Vigilant</i>

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 <i>Valiant</i>

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 Her 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.

UKBF 42m Customs Cutter

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.

Border Force UK law enforcement agency

Border Force (BF) is a 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.

References