VESSEL REVIEW | Enforcer I – New customs patrol boat for Jamaica

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) recently took delivery of a new patrol boat from Colombian builder Eduardono.

The aptly named Enforcer I has a length of 11 metres, a beam of 2.46 metres, a minimum displacement of 1,025 kg, and two Yamaha 223kW engines fed by a 940-litre fuel tank.

The boat was also built to incorporate all-weather capability while a shallow draught allows it to operate safely in rivers and estuaries in addition to the open sea. The efficient hull is developed on a modified “V” platform to allow the boat to face large waves without losing stability.

Like other vessels in the JCA patrol fleet, the new boat will be operated in support of the country’s coast guard and marine police during maritime border security missions.

Velma Ricketts Walker, Jamaica’s Commissioner of Customs, boasts greater speed, a larger passenger capacity, and the ability to span a wider range compared to the customs agency’s older vessels, enhancing the agency’s ability to effectively patrol the country’s maritime space in order to combat illicit or illegal activities.

Space is available for a crew of four and cargo totalling 3,200 kg, enabling the boat to also perform limited transfer of materiel as well as accommodate safety equipment for emergency response.