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NI drug buster for Gibraltar Straits

The fast rigid inflatable boat (rib), designed and built by Red Bay Boats in Cushendall on the County Antrim coast, can not only do 60mph, but has a specially reinforced hull for ramming.

Until now, drug smugglers have easily outrun Gibraltar and Spanish Customs in the straits. The only way to stop drug smuggling vessels was to use firepower.

Owner and Managing Director of Red Bay Boats, Paul McLaughlin, said that Gibraltar Customs plan a totally new strategy using the £75,000 rib, which is 9.5 metres long, with a fibreglass hull, inflatable tubes, and fitted with twin 240 horsepower diesel engines.

He said "Initially they had spotters on the cliffs who viewed the area and then sent the fast boats out in pursuit.

"This boat is going to be used for patrolling ten hours day. It is totally reinforced.....and is a very hard thing to stop."

Gibraltar Customs placed their order for the specially adapted rib after they saw an advertisement for a similar boat.

Manager Gary Fife said: "They wanted a boat which had shelter to keep them dry, with the kind of horsepower that nobody else has needed before.

He said the rib is particularly suited to the task because it is safer, more stable and with better sea handling than wholly fibreglass boats.

But he said that he feels "a bit dubious" about suggestions Gibraltar Customs may use it to ram boats carrying drug smugglers.

"They say they do it and they asked for the reinforced hull, which has a steel plate stretching the length of the stem.

"But I wouldn't think it's safe practice. You could kill people at that kind of carry on.

"I suppose you could use it to push a boat, and it's an intimidation factor."

Gibraltar Customs placed the order in January after coming to Northern Ireland to see the company, which was set up 22 years ago and employs 12 people.

Red Bay have also developed fishery protection vessels for the Republic of Ireland government, used for patrolling the Irish Sea for illegal fishing and boats using illegal nets.

The company have also designed a rib for surveying sea pollution off Northern Ireland, which is fitted with a crane for taking samples from the seabed.

But the drug busting custom cruiser, which was tested along the County Antrim coast, is the most unusual and fastest boat they have built yet.

Relevant Stories

Drugs laws failing - MPs (19 May 99 | UK Politics)
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