PICTURES: Frontline UK Border Force boat docks in Inverness
One of the UK Border Force’s frontline fleet of patrol vessels berthed in Inverness this week.
HMC Vigilant, a customs cutter, was spotted at Inverness Harbour yesterday evening (Wednesday).
Built and launched by Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands in 2003, Vigilant is one of five 42-metre (138 ft) cutters currently operated by the UK Border Force.
Vigilant began service for the British Government under the command of the then HM Customs and Excise in 2004.
In 2008, the fleet of customs cutters was transferred, along with border control duties, from HM Revenue and Customs to the newly-formed UK Border Agency.
Then on March 1, 2012, Border Force was formed, becoming accountable directly to ministers under Theresa May’s Conservative Government.
A Home Office spokeswoman said the vessel docked in Inverness as part of “routine operations”.
