Leopardess needs half a million spent on it

The work will not cost taxpayers a penny after the Home Affairs Committee arranged for it to be paid from the seized assets fund.

The fund collects the proceeds of crime which have been recovered by the authorities. It can be used for the island's benefit if there is no alternative claim on the money.

‘Home Affairs approved the proposal to refurbish the vessel and a formal application was made for the relevant additional funding. This application was supported by Policy & Resources, which has released funding for it,’ said Home Affairs president Rob Prow.

‘The estimated cost for this essential work, including a full survey, is £560,000, which incorporates a contingency figure. We expect the Leopardess to be back operational later this year.’

The Leopardess was granted grace to operate for years despite not having a code compliance certificate. A final temporary certificate was issued by harbour master David Barker on 15 August last year, to last until 31 December.

At that time, the Economic Development Committee was responsible for the vessel. It did

not arrange for it to be surveyed or refurbished, although it was known since at least last summer that the vessel would be forced out of service by the end of the year.

Economic Development president Deputy Neil Inder claimed in the States last week that he was unaware the Leopardess had

been grounded until another deputy who does not sit on his committee found out and told him recently.

The Guernsey Press then asked further questions about the background to the boat's problems and plans to get it back into service.

Home Affairs formally took over responsibility for the vessel on 1 January this year, by which time it had already written to P&R requesting funding, which P&R agreed in March.

‘The harbour master, who is responsible for the issuance of the certificates, has not been able to issue a new certificate at this time, until an appropriate certifying authority, recognised by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, conducts a full survey of the vessel,’ said Deputy Prow.

‘In the meantime, while the Leopardess is out of action, contingency plans are in place, which will include the chartering of suitable vessels as and when required to ensure services can discharge essential maritime enforcement functions.

‘This arrangement has happened historically from time to time when the Leopardess has been unavailable.’

The Leopardess is jointly used by sea fisheries officials and law enforcement agencies. It sometimes supports other States services.

In 2015, when the then Commerce & Employment Department was putting forward a case to replace the vessel, it was reported to have been used on 150 days in 2014.

Deputy Prow said the States wanted to ‘maximise the value’ of the vessel.