IOM Customs boat to be gifted to Sierra Leone

Fri, 11 May 2012

Panther moored at Douglas Copyright Richard Hoare

The Isle of Man Government's customs boat is now surplus to requirement and will be given to one of the poorest countries in the world.

Improvements in satellite monitoring mean DEFA and the Treasury will share a vessel for fisheries and customs work and the vessel called the Panther will go to Sierra Leone.

The boat was gifted to the Isle of Man by the UK so it wasn't considered to be appropriate to sell it on.

The World Bank is funding the project and will pay for the Panther to be refitted to make her suitable to operate in tropical conditions.

DEFA Minister Phil Gawne says many people in the country are reliant on fishing but stocks are being wiped out by illegal activity.[play media file below]