SC23237 - KEIFCA Cabin RIB

The district of Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (K&EIFCA) contains some of the most attractive, productive and intensively used coastal waters in the UK; from the small picturesque harbours of Whitstable, Leigh and West Mersea to the major industrial ports of Harwich, London and Dover. This marine environment includes unique features such as the Essex mud flats and marshes, offshore sandbanks, the Kent chalk cliffs and cobble beaches all of which contain a fascinating array of habitats and species. K&EIFCA has been created to sustainably manage local inshore fisheries resources and protect this diverse marine environment. Kent & Essex IFCA district covers an area of over 3,412 km2, and extends from the east end of Rye Bay in Kent to the northern boundary of Essex on the River Stour. The seaward boundary follows the coast to the 6-mile nautical limit measured from the 1983 baseline, which, due to drying sand banks, extends up to 15 miles offshore in some places. The up-river K&EIFCA boundary in the Thames includes the waters adjacent to Kent County Council and Thurrock Council, with the district boundary running from Dartford creek (River Darent) on the south shore to Mar Dyke on the North Shore. The other district limits for the rest of the rivers located within the boundaries of Kent and Essex extended to their tidal limit (including, the Medway, the Blackwater and the Colne). The requirement was to build of a 9.5 - 11m cabin RIB subject to a tendering process. The size and enclosed protection of a cabin RIB provides an elevated and protected vantage point, enhancing surveillance capabilities over those provided by existing vessels to monitor larger areas of the water and detect potential illegal fishing activities effectively. Whilst the cabin would allow for extended patrols, enabling officers to stay on the water for longer durations, ensuring continuous presence in critical areas.