Navy boards almost 2,000 vessels in record year for patrols

NAVAL patrols boarded almost 2,000 vessels in 2003 in one of the busiest years for the service.

Ships carried out a record 1,511 patrol days last year, an increase of 37% on 2002.

A total of 90% of these patrols were dedicated to fishery protection and led to the boarding of 1,950 vessels, the detention of 35 and written warnings being issued to 119.