Two Archer-class patrol boats have been shipped out to the Mediterranean for a new role in the front-line against illegal activities.

HM ships Pursuer and Dasher were taken the 2,000 miles from Portsmouth to Cyprus on board the MV Mayflower, and a small crowd gathered at the Mediterranean island to watch as the mother-ship’s cranes were used to lower the 49-ton patrol boats gently into the water at Akrotiri Mole.

The nine-day journey was sanctioned to allow the P2000 patrol boats to enhance security at Sovereign Base Area waters.

The two vessels had previously been among 14 P2000s used by the University Royal Naval Units (URNUs) to train cadets in seamanship and navigation, and to raise the profile of the Navy with undergraduates.

Dasher was used by cadets from Bristol URNU and Pursuer by students at Sussex URNU, and their needs will now be covered by sister boats – Sussex will pair up with Southampton URNU, and Bristol with Birmingham URNU; in both cases there is no geographic penalty in terms of access to the boats.

“We have managed to achieve this by adjusting the programme,” said Cdr Ian Carter, the Commanding Officer of the Portsmouth-based First Patrol Boat Squadron.

“By use of flexible planning we can just cover the departure of Dasher and Pursuer and still adhere to the minimum sea experience requirement – though it has taken some innovative planning, and there is an increased risk of programme loss through bad weather.”

The squadron has also produced three commanding officers and three crews for the boats in Cyprus, and by judicious drafting some continuity has been maintained – all three COs have recent P2000 command experience.

The man in charge of the two boats, 22 Royal Navy personnel and four Royal Marines working with them is Lt Cdr David Bryant, from HMS Collingwood, a former Staff Operations Officer with the First Patrol Boat Squadron and an ex-Gibraltar Squadron commanding officer – the Gib Squadron operate the same class of boats in a similar role.

Lt Cdr Bryant said: “I think it is going to be a challenge, a satisfying and exciting challenge, and it’s something that my team and I are very much looking forward to.”

Initially the boats, powered by two Rolls-Royce diesel engines and carrying a crew of six, will be prepared for their new role.

The Senior Naval Officer in Cyprus, Lt Cdr Nobby Hall, said: “The first couple of weeks will be spent getting sorted out and worked up.

“A team from Flag Officer Sea Training will be coming out from the UK to conduct very intensive training in order to get the ships operational.”

Lt Cdr Hall, who works on Maritime Operations in the headquarters British Forces Cyprus at Episkopi, added: “The reason they have come to Cyprus is to provide us with a capability we have needed to patrol the Sovereign Base Areas waters.

“In liaison with the Republic of Cyprus they will form an important round-the-clock deterrent against illegal immigrants and drug trafficking.

“HQ BFC are very pleased to have these assets here because there has been a shortfall in our capability for a very long time.”

Dasher and Pursuer will be based at Akrotiri but cover both the Western and Eastern Sovereign Base Areas.