Another armed patrol vessel is to join the Customs fleet in the fight against illegal foreign fishing in northern Australian waters, the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said today.

The 2006-07 Budget allocated over $17 million to Customs to charter a vessel to boost Customs capability to respond to the threat posed by increased incursions into the Australian fishing zone.

"This initiative, an important part of the Howard Government's $389 million plan to deal with illegal fishing, will provide significant support to Customs and Navy patrol boats already engaged in responding to and apprehending illegal vessels," Senator Ellison said.

He said Customs would undertake a process to identify a suitable vessel and contract arrangements.

Senator Ellison said the vessel was capable of adding considerable capacity to multi-agency operations, targeting organised illegal fishing.

"It will also be able to act as a command ship during operations," he said.

"When combined with the allocation of $14 million to fund the use of other vessels to tow apprehended boats to an Australian port for further investigation, this new armed patrol vessel will be a major addition to Customs capability to deliver effective border protection."

Senator Ellison said the funding would enable the vessel to be chartered for 12 months commencing in January 2007.

"The vessel will have the capability to remain at sea for extended periods and operate independently in waters around Australia," Senator Ellison said.

"The vessel will be crewed by civilian mariners, in a similar arrangement to that used on board the Customs and Fisheries Southern Ocean patrol vessel, Oceanic Viking.

"It will also carry highly trained, armed Customs personnel who will be equipped to board, apprehend and secure any vessel operating illegally in our waters."

It is envisaged the vessel will carry similar weapons systems to those on board the Oceanic Viking.

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