HMS Brocklesby’s first fishery protection patrol of 2004 took her clockwise around Britain – though she covered twice the distance usually required for a circumnavigation.

The Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel, known as the Battling Brock, steamed around 3,000 miles in the 22-day patrol before returning to her home port of Faslane on the Clyde at the beginning of this month.

Working with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Brocklesby’s main task was to police the UK 6 to 12-mile limit offshore, carrying out routine inspections of fishing vessels.

Her previous patrol, in November, saw her nab three serious offenders, as well as dealing with other ships committing lesser infringements.

Stormy weather took its toll on the number of boardings possible, but officers were confident that the ship’s presence was often enough to deter any would-be rule-breakers.

The warship is currently in maintenance, and is due to undertake another round-Britain patrol starting in the middle of March.

So it will be ‘round again Coxswain!’ – only this time she will be travelling in an anti-clockwise direction.