NIFCA OFFICE
The Authority has operated from its current premises at 8 Ennerdale Road, Blyth since September 2013. In 2024, a new 10-year lease with a 5-year break clause was agreed with the landlord, FES Ltd, with an anticipated rent increase from £27,500 to £30,000 from August 2025. The site includes office and meeting spaces, a large garage for storing the 5.3m trailered RIB, Zodiac, and other survey equipment, as well as a fenced car park and a shipping container for additional storage. Refurbishment and remedial works were completed in March and April 2024 at a cost of £36,500 to enhance the utility of the building. Further improvements are planned for 2025, including the conversion of a spare garage room into additional office space.
VESSELS & VEHICLES
NIFCA has three vessels: the main patrol and research vessel, St Aidan, is a 16m GRP catamaran based at Royal Quays Marina in North Shields. Built in 2015 and funded entirely from Authority reserves, St Aidan provides offshore enforcement, monitoring, and survey capacity across the district. It is powered by twin 600hp Cummins engines and equipped with our second vessel, a 5.3m RIB, TT St Aidan, which can operate independently and be deployed from onshore locations. The Authority also operates the Robert Arckless MBE, a 9m cabin RIB brought into service in 2019 and based at Amble Marina. Funded in part by an EMFF grant, this vessel is well-suited for inshore patrols and survey work. A smaller 3.4m Zodiac inflatable, acquired in 2013, supports estuarine survey activity. To support shore-based operations, the Authority uses a fleet of vehicles. This includes two leased pool vehicles (a Ford Ranger 4x4 and a Ford Connect minivan) acquired in 2020 through service level agreements with Northumberland County Council. Both vehicles are expected to remain in service until at least summer 2026. In March 2024, the Authority also purchased a second-hand Citroen Berlingo minivan to supplement its fleet. These vehicles are used for shore patrols, survey work, and other operational duties across the district.
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