North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority 10 Assets NWIFCA deploys a number of specialist operational assets in order to fulfil all our responsibilities. Our main patrol vessel, North Western Protector, is based in the north of the district in Whitehaven. A former windfarm vessel, commissioned by the Authority in 2018, it is a 20.5m aluminium catamaran with a specification that enables us to deliver our enforcement and scientific work across the district. It has twin Man 1,100hp 12-cylinder 1,200rpm engines that power its UltraDynamics UJ575 waterjets, giving it a cruising speed of 23 knots. It employs a ‘mother-daughter’ system with a small, stern-launched rigid inflatable boat (RIB) used to transport officers across to nearby fishing vessels for inspection. It is capable of lifting fixed fishing nets and pots for inspection, as well as deploying specialist scientific equipment for underwater surveys. As a twinhulled catamaran, it can also ‘dry out’ on intertidal areas on low tides to enable officers to conduct scientific or enforcement work on foot. Completing our seagoing fleet are two RIBs, one in the central part of the district, ordinarily based in Barrow, and one in Liverpool covering the southern area. These craft provide us with further capabilities to deliver proactive and reactive enforcement and scientific work, enabling responsive operational coverage across the entire North West. As well as our vessels, we also have a fleet of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs, or ‘quad bikes’), pick-up trucks and vans to enable officers to travel throughout the district and deploy their specialist equipment wherever needed. North West Protector
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