North Eastern Guardian IV Naming Ceremony
On Saturday 21st June 2025, the Authority’s new ‘state of the art’ fisheries and research patrol vessel, North Eastern Guardian IV was officially named and blessed. The ceremony represented the culmination of over ten years dedication and hard work resulting in a new, innovative inshore fisheries vessel for the North East region, the fifth generation in a lineage of vessels dating back to 1905. Unique in its class, North Eastern Guardian IV was built and commissioned by Parkol Marine Ltd at the very location where the ceremony took place.
The ceremony was hosted by NEIFCA’s Chairman, Professor Michael Elliott, and was named by Mrs Margaret Traves. Margaret’s husband, George Traves MBE was a local fishing industry leader, vessel owner and operator and longstanding Chairman of both North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee and NEIFCA. North Eastern Guardian IV was the third generation fisheries vessel that Margaret officially named. The blessing was led by the Right Reverend Barry Hill, Bishop of Whitby.
‘This is a proud and memorable day for NEIFCA, its members, officers and staff who have worked so hard to make it happen. The region now boasts one of the most capable and modern marine and fisheries assets in the UK and I have little doubt that it will prove its worth over the next twenty years.’
Professor Michael Elliott, Chairman of NEIFCA
Official Naming Ceremony - Saturday 21st June 2025
Blessing led by the Right Reverend Barry Hill, Bishop of Whitby
North Eastern IFCA Officers - 21st June 2025
Chief Officer David McCandless & Mrs Margaret Traves - 21st June 2025
The innovative and bespoke design of the vessel has been tailored by Chartwell Marine Ltd to support the delivery of sustainable, inshore marine management and fisheries development, throughout our coastal region, for the next twenty years.
Alongside fisheries enforcement and compliance work, key duties will include the assessment and monitoring of the region’s fish and shellfish stocks, exploring new commercial fishing opportunities and the mapping and recording of sensitive marine habitats along the North East coastline through high specification acoustical systems and underwater cameras. The vessel will also carry a range of sensitive probes designed to record and monitor any changes and trends occurring within our regions seas and estuaries.
North Eastern Guardian IV’s capabilities are truly multi-functional and it will play a crucial role in the long-term conservation and management of the regions marine resources
