The Authority moved to its current premises at 8 Ennerdale Road, Blyth in September 2013. A new 10-year lease with a 5-year break clause was agreed and began in September 2023, with the annual rent increasing to £30,000 p.a from September 2025. The rent will be subject to review at the 5-year break point (2028). As part of the new agreement, the Authority carried out some remedial work and improvements to the premises in 2024 at a cost of £37,000. Further works, including a garage room conversion and external lighting, were carried out in early 2026 at a total cost of £10,600. The premises continue to provide an excellent work base and storage facilities at a reasonable cost. NIFCA OFFICE
VESSELS & VEHICLES
NIFCA’s main patrol and research vessel, St Aidan, is a 16m catamaran based at Royal Quay’s Marina, North Shields. Acquired in 2015 at a cost of £680,000, funded entirely from the Authority’s reserves, the vessel provides a vital platform for offshore patrols and survey work. It can also carry a 5.3m RIB, TT St Aidan, which can also be launched independently from a trailer, giving additional flexibility for inshore operations. Alongside this, the Authority operates the Robert Arckless MBE, a 9m cabin RIB introduced in 2019. Costing just under £150,000, with around 70% financed through EMFF grant funding, it is berthed at Amble Marina and serves both as a patrol and enforcement platform and survey work. A smaller 3.5m Zodiac inflatable, purchased in 2013, continues to support estuarine surveys. On land, NIFCA maintains service agreements with Northumberland County Council for a Ford Connect minivan and a Ford Ranger 4x4. The leases, which began in 2020, cost £4,540 and £5,850 (ex VAT) per year respectively and have been extended until September 2027, when the vehicles are expected to be replaced. In 2024, the Authority also purchased a second-hand Citroen Berlingo minivan outright for £11,200, further strengthening its vehicle fleet. Maintaining these assets ensures NIFCA is well equipped to carry out its duties efficiently both at sea and on land.
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