HMS Mersey gets Pacific 24 RIBs
The Royal Navy’s HMS Mersey patrol ship has received two new Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), the navy announced on 16 May.
The new 25.5ft boats replace the older 22ft Pacific 22 RIBs previously used on operations for more than a decade.
The Pacific 24s can seat more personnel on better seating and can travel at higher speeds, carrying boarding teams to inspect vessels as part of HMS Mersey's fisheries protection role.
HMS Mersey's XO Lt Martyn Mayger said: ‘Sea boat operations are our bread and butter and these faster, stronger, more agile boats allow us to conduct our marine enforcement task more effectively.
‘The two Pac24s mark a significant increase in Mersey's capability, but the boats have their work cut out for them - we are a busy ship.’
The crew have already undergone training on the new vessels.
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