HMC Searcher
{{short description|UK Border Force 42m Customs Cutter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | image = File:Searcher - Border Force ship (cropped).jpg |Ship image=File:Searcher - Border Force ship (cropped).jpg |Ship caption=The UK Border Force ship Searcher at Weymouth in 2016. }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag= |Ship name=Searcher |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Damen Group, Netherlands |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=2002 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= 2002 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|9234800}}
|Ship captured= |Ship fate= |Ship status= |Ship notes= |Ship honours= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=UKBF 42m Customs Cutter |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|42.80|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|7.11|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|2.52|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship power={{convert|4176|kW|HP|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=*Two Caterpillar 3516B DI-TA Elec
|Ship speed={{convert|26|kn|km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|1750|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at 12kn |Ship endurance=14 days |Ship boats=
|Ship complement=12 |Ship armament= |Ship notes= }} |
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.
History
HMC Searcher entered service in 2002 with what was then HM Customs and Excise (HMCE). HMCE merged with the Inland Revenue in 2005, and the cutter fleet became part of the newly founded HM Revenue and Customs. In 2008, the fleet transferred to the UK Border Agency, which was established to maintain the UK border. She now operates as part of the UK Border Force fleet of five cutters.
Prefix
From the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise into HM Revenue and Customs on 18 April 2005, customs cutters changed their prefix from "HMRC" (His Majesty's Revenue Cutter) to "HMCC" (His Majesty's Customs Cutter). Following the transfer to the UK Border Agency this was shortened to the present "HMC" (His Majesty's Cutter) and a new livery was applied to the fleet.
Construction
HMC Searcher is the third of the Customs and Excise's fleet of {{convert|42|m|ft|adj=on}} customs patrol vessels. She was built in 2002 in the Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands, and has a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure.
Her {{convert|7|m|ft|adj=on}} Rigid Inflatable Boat is launched and recovered from her stern slipway.
Propulsion
She is fitted with twin Caterpillar diesel engines, with a top speed of {{convert|26|kn|km/h|lk=in}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/cutters/|title=Our fleet of cutters|publisher=UK Border Agency|access-date=13 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309073057/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/cutters/|archive-date=9 March 2012|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Searcher (ship, 2001)}}
{{UK Border Force}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Searcher}}
Category:Ships built in Vlissingen
Category:Ships of the United Kingdom