WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1986
6
NEW LAUNCH DELIVERED TO CUSTOMS SERVICE
*****
THE FIRST OF THE THREE NEW DAMEN PATROL LAUNCHES. NAMED 'SEA GLORY' AND BUILT LOCALLY, HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.
THE OTHER TWO LAUNCHES, SEA GUARDIAN' AND 'SEA LEADER' ARE SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, RESPECTIVELY.
THE SERVICE'S REGIONAL COMMANDER FOR HONG KONG ISLAND. MR FREDDY LEE, SAID THAT IN 1985 THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED EXPENDITURE OF $25 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE PATROL LAUNCHES TO REPLACE THREE OLD CUSTOMS LAUNCHES WHICH WERE COMMISSIONED MORE THAN 24 YEARS AGO.
THE NEW VESSELS WILL:
*
*
*
INTERCEPT AND SEARCH SMALL CRAFT TO PREVENT THE SMUGGLING INTO HONG KONG OF FIREARMS, NARCOTICS AND DUTIABLE COMMODITIES;
CARRY OUT PATROLS ON OUTLYING ISLANDS AND OTHER REMOTE AREAS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY SEA;
ESCORT OCEAN-GOING VESSELS SELECTED FOR RUMMAGING; AND
* PROVIDE A DETERRENT AND PREVENTIVE
SCREEN.
THE NEW DAMENS ARE 26.5 METRES LONG WITH A STEEL HULL AND ALUMINIUM SUPERSTRUCTURE. THEY OPERATE ON TWO ENGINES WITH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 23 KNOTS.
THE VESSELS ARE EQUIPPED WITH MODERN SOPHISTICATED NAVIGATIONAL AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND ARE FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED. CELL ACCOMMODATION AND A SEIZURE STORE ARE ALSO PROVIDED.
FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL SIDE-ARMS CARRIED BY THE CREW EACH VESSEL IS EQUIPPED WITH OTHER TYPES OF ARMAMENT FOR USE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
/EACH LAUNCH
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