HMC Protector

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.

Not to be confused with HMS Protector.
HMC Protector in Mytilene port, Greece
History
Finland
Name: Tavi
Operator: 2002–2013: Finnish Border Guard
Ordered: January 2000
Builder: Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy, Uusikaupunki, Finland
Yard number: 20125[1]
Launched: January 2002
Identification:
Fate: Sold to UK Border Force in August 2013
United Kingdom
Name: Protector
Operator: 2013–present: UK Border Force
Acquired: August 2013
Commissioned: 17 March 2014
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Telkkä-class Customs Cutter
Tonnage:
Displacement: 434 t (427 long tons; 478 short tons)
Length: 49.7 m (163 ft)[3]
Beam: 7.3 m (24 ft)[1]
Draught: 3.65 m (12.0 ft)[4]
Installed power: 5,000 kW (6,700 hp)[1]
Propulsion:
  • Two Wärtsilä 12V200 engines [4]
  • Two reduction gearboxes
  • One bow thruster
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h) [1]
Armament: None

Construction

HMC Protector is the only vessel of the Telkkä-class operating in the UK Border Force's fleet and works alongside four 42-metre (138 ft) customs patrol vessels. Protector was built in 2002 by Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy at Uusikaupunki, Finland and named Tavi, originally serving with the Finnish Border Guard.[5][6] The design includes an ice-class steel hull and an aluminium superstructure.[3] After service with the Finnish Border Guard from 2002 to 2013, Tavi was sold to the UK Border Force.[7] Following a period of refit, the vessel was renamed Protector and entered service on 17 March 2014 with a commissioning ceremony in London. The home port of the Protector is Portsmouth.

Propulsion

Protector is fitted with twin Wärtsilä 12V200 engines [1] driving twin propellers [1] through a pair of reduction gearboxes.[1] The total installed power of 5,000 kW (6,700 hp)[1] gives Protector a top speed of 22 knots (41 km/h).[1] A single bow thruster is fitted[1] for slow speed manoeuvring in confined spaces.

Operational history

From April to October 2015, HMC Protector was located in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Triton [8] alongside HMC Seeker. The two ships were responsible for rescuing 1,650 refugees and apprehended 26 people traffickers. Both vessels operated alongside the Italian Armed Forces and had a small contingent of Royal Marines aboard.[8]

On August 28, 2019 she was involved in the seizure of approximately 750 kg of 80% purity cocaine off the coast of Pembrokeshire. The vessel was then landed in Fishguard harbour.

References
  1. "IHS Maritime Portal (subscription required)". Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  2. "FleetMon Tracking of HMC Protector". Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. "Protector - Home Secretary launches new Border Force cutter to protect UK coastline". Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  4. "TELKKÄ Frontier Guarding Vessel". Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  5. "Single Ship Report for "4544107"". Miramar Ship Index (subscription required). Wellington, New Zealand: R B Haworth. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. Sjöström, Pär-Henrik, ed. (2009). Finnish Maritime Index: 09-10 (PDF). Gothenburg: Breakwater Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 978-91-978123-1-3. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  7. "Rajavartiolaitoksen laiva myytiin Britanniaan". Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  8. "Team that rescued 1,650 migrants get a hero's welcome in Portsmouth". Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  • Media related to HMC Protector at Wikimedia Commons
  • Media related to Tavi at Wikimedia Commons
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