During the month of August I will be participating in Blaugust, a month long blogging challenge.
Today’s TDC says:
Your keywords for today’s TDC are: on the border.
Make something and/or show us something that goes with these words.
Border Force flickr photo by NomadWarMachine shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA 2.0) license
I searched through my Flickr albums for ‘border’ and found this picture of a boat, taken in Oban a few years ago. I wondered at the time what this was – it seemed a strange thing to find in a Scottish tourist resort. However, a Google AI summary tells me today that:
The UK Border Force operates Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPVs) along the west coast of Scotland to secure shallow waters, marinas, and beaches around the Sound of Kerrera and the Isle of Mull. These vessels deploy directly out of major hubs or regional bases when required.
The UK Border Force patrols Oban because its complex coastline serves as a major gateway to the Highlands and Islands, making it vulnerable to maritime crime. While the town is famous for tourism and Caledonian MacBrayne ferries, the vast, rugged geography of Argyll and Bute presents specific security challenges that require a targeted border presence.
So there you have it – this boat protects Scotland from illicit smuggling, and other nefarious practices. Gee, thanks!
