The Home Office announced a £1.259 million one‑year rental for crewed rigid‑hull inflatable boats (RIBs) and a £1.6 million three‑year repair contract as migrant arrivals surged to almost 1,000 over a recent bank‑holiday weekend, pushing total crossings since 2018 past 200,000. The procurement, detailed in contracts obtained by media, aims to bolster a fleet already stretched by four £30 million catamarans hired to rescue people from unseaworthy vessels.

£1.259 million RIB rental targets 20‑person rescue capacity

The new deal, signed with Boatserv, provides 8.5‑metre RIBs capable of carrying at least 20 rescued individuals and sustaining 20‑knot cruising speeds, with burtss up to 40 knots. According to the Home Office contract, crews will work eight‑hour shifts around the clock, and the vessels may either transfer people to larger rescue boats or bring them directly ashore.

£1.6 million three‑year repair contract keeps existing fleet afloat

A separate agreement earmarks £1.4 million for the upkeep of Border Force RIBs and an additional £200,000 for tactical boat maintenance, ensuring that the current fleet remains operational while the new rentals are integrated. the Home Office says the repair work is essential as weather improves, encouraging more crossings.

Four £30 million catamarans expand capacity to 80 migrants each

The government previously hired four catamarans—BSC Enterprise, BSC Contender, BSC Courageous,and BSC Intrepid—at a cost of £30 million over three years. These 79‑foot by 29‑foot vessels offer significantly more space than earlier boats, each able to transport up to 80 migrants , and are intended to complement the faster RIBs during large‑scale arrivals.

Labour’s promise to "smash the gangs" meets modest deportation figures

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to end the crossing trade and dismantle smuggling networks, yet Home Office data shows only 7,612 deportations since he took office. The continued reliance on costly maritime assets suggests that policy measrues have yet to translate into a measurable reduction in arrivals.

Who will fund the long‑term maritime response?

The contracts reveal a total spend of roughly £2.9 million for new rentals and repairs, but the source does not disclose the broader budgetary framework or whether additional funding will be sought as the crisis persists. As the Home Office adapts its fleet, questions remain about the sustainability of such expenditures over the projected years‑long duration of the Channel crossings.