Vigilant in town
February 6 saw the customs cutter HMC Vigilant making a routine visit to Greenwells Quay. She is now operated by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), which came into being on April 1, 2008, to improve the UK's security by combining immigration, visa and border customs detection functions.
Vigilant is one of four Stan Patrol 4207 fast patrol boats operated by UKBA, having been built by Damen Shipyards, Holland and commissioned in 2003. Her sisters, Seeker, Searcher and Valiant were commissioned in 2001, 2002 and 2004, respectively. A fifth member of the fleet is the 1993 Vosper Thorneycroft Island Class cutter, HMC Sentinel.
Patrolling high-risk areas and responding to intelligence, these craft provide an all-year-round frontline defence against the smuggling of people and illegal goods, such as drugs and weapons, into the UK.
Capable of more than 26 knots, the 42-metre Vigilant and her sisters are equipped with advanced navigation and surveillance equipment and carry a 7.4-metre rigid-hulled inflatable boat.
Counter-smuggling activities undertaken by Board of Customs during the early 19th century led to the establishment of the Coast Guard, from which today's HM Coastguard (represented locally by volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service teams at Sunderland and Seaham) is directly descended.
On January 15, 1822, the Preventive Service, comprising the Preventive Water Guard, Revenue Cruisers and Riding Officers, was restyled as the Coast Guard. Previously, these three bodies had been under the respective control of the Treasury, Admiralty and Customs.
Although primarily responsible for preventing smuggling, Coast Guards also helped to save life from shipwreck.
While little is known of its early activities in the Sunderland area, the Coast Guard was originally stationed in the Custom House building at the east end of Fitters Row, Silver Street, in the town's East End.
Here, 10 tide waiters (officials who boarded ships arriving on the tide) and four boatmen operated under the Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard.
In 1837, a new Custom House was opened on High Street opposite the foot of Vine Street. A lower storey on the north side of the building gave access to Low Street quayside. Officers of the Coast Guard were stationed there until the service was transferred to Admiralty jurisdiction on October 1, 1856, by which time it was known as the "Coastguard".
Although retaining a minor role in protecting the Revenue, its primary responsibility became defence of the coasts and providing a reserve for the Royal Navy.
Other duties included assisting vessels in danger, taking charge of wrecks and operating life-saving apparatus.
HM Coastguard is now part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and is dedicated to the protection of life at sea.
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
