New River-class patrol ship HMS Tyne is making her presence felt – she has already managed the rare feat of two boardings at the same time, and her first ‘arrest’ has resulted in a prosecution.

The ship, one of a planned fleet of three leased from VT (Maritime Affairs) by the Navy for fishery protection duties within the UK’s fishing limits, has achieved 280 boardings in seven months, and can deploy up to three boarding parties and two sea-boats at any one time.

Two French stern trawlers detained by Tyne in the Eastern Channel were brought back into Portsmouth for further investigation by officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

As a result one of the ships was deemed to be breaking the law, and her skipper was fined £4,000 at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court last week for using an illegal net attachment. The owners were fined £6,000.

Shortly after Tyne made a high-speed dash, steaming 400 miles from Portsmouth to waters off the west of Ireland in order to check the activities of a UK-registered fishing boat with a mainly Spanish crew, the Monte Mazanteu.

The fishing boat was escorted back to Plymouth for investigation by fisheries inspectorate enforcement officers from DEFRA.

Tyne’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Craig Gilmour, said: “The ability to operate and sustain more than four quality boardings per day in support of DEFRA is an excellent capability and provides excellent value for money for the Ministry of Defence and DEFRA alike.”

A spokeswoman for DEFRA said: “The partnership between DEFRA and the Royal Navy creates a strong presence in our waters and is invaluable for protecting UK fisheries.

“We look forward to continuing this successful working relationship.”

Sister ship HMS Severn is due to conduct her first operational patrol next month, and the final ship of the trio, HMS Mersey, is currently in build.

The new ships are a major advance in comfort, speed and capability on the old Island-class fleet which they are replacing.