Fisheries boat made journey with expired paperwork

The Leopardess can be deployed at the request of a number of States operational services

Guernsey's Sea Fisheries protection vessel went out to sea last year despite its legal certification having expired, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Under Guernsey law, the Leopardess should have a code compliance certificate (CCC) to sail.

The certificate expired on 13 April 2023 and was reinstated on 17 July 2023.

Responding to a BBC Freedom of Information request, the Committee for Economic Development said the vessel made two journeys during that time.

On one journey it did not have the correct paperwork, the committee said.

It said the Leopardess could be "deployed at the request of a number of States operational services".

On the journey to Herm on 11 May, the committee said: "Bailiwick Law Enforcement was not made aware that the CCC was awaiting reissue.

"This has since been discussed between the relevant parties and the harbour master and new practices are in place to ensure such an oversight does not occur again."

It said the harbour master granted a temporary licence to the Leopardess during another journey to Portland on 13 June.

Concerns were raised by politicians in July 2023 about the vessel's lack of legal compliance.

Despite maintenance work last year, the vessel is now out of action because it again does not have the compliance certificate it needs.

The boat is due to be sent to the UK for survey and maintenance work but no date has been given yet.