The Armed Forces have bought a patrol boat worth Lm2.3 million from the US Coast Guard.

The 87-foot Protector Class boat, bought out of a $13 million grant made available to Malta under the US Securities Assistance Act of 2000, arrives this weekend.

The grant had been given for the purchase of equipment to detect illegal materials trafficked in containers, and to assist the Armed Forces to enhance its search and rescue capabilities.

The US Coast Guard has 50 such boats in service.

The vessel, which has been given number P51, will give the AFM maritime squadron an improved radar capability and state-of-the-art technology. The vessel can be used in a variety of roles, including search and rescue and fisheries protection.

AFM personnel who will be operating the boat followed extensive training in the US over the past year. This training was also made possible through the US grant.

The official handover of the boat to the Maltese authorities will take place in November.

Coincidentally, the oldest vessels in the maritime squadron are two Swift class patrol boats which are also American built. They were the first boats to equip the then Maritime Troop of the Malta Land Force. They were formally handed to the Malta government by the US ambassador in 1971. The vessels have since proved to be the workhorses of the squadron.

Following the reunification of Germany, the AFM bought three ex-East German 170-foot Kondor I class patrol boats, which are the biggest elements of its fleet, and two Bremse class patrol craft.

In the past, the squadron also operated other patrol boats donated by the US, Germany, Libya, Yugoslavia and Italy.