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reduce fuel consumption for professional operators. For example, C-Sense Project Leader, Pierre-Alexis Dormeg- nies said, ?The Eco-Pilot has an onboard memory which allows two years of fuel consumption to be recorded. The precise analysis of fuel consumption history enables Eco- Pilot to model a set of typical future consumption  gures, suggesting economic actions to reduce fuel consumption.? It is no coincidence that smugglers of people and con- traband often select RHIBs. This is simple market forces at work as RHIBs are relatively cheap and ready to use, off the shelf. If the buyer  nds a boatyard that asks no questions, the RHIB concept allows for stretched hulls and multiple outboard set ups. With no procurement process to go through, no pollution or environmental compliance, no health and safety concerns and no fuel budgets this can deliver a very simple and ef cient platform. At the recent Fast Patrol & Interception conference in London, high level maritime agencies from three countries demonstrat- ed that simple is good. They all showed smugglers boats that had been impounded then re-badged as interceptors. These are known as ?modi ed boats? or ?reformed boats?. This Captured Off The Smuggler version of COTS can be viewed as innovative re-cycling and effective budget man- agement. Looking globally various regions are building fast craft  eets from zero. Some organisations consider the craft to be a mobile platform that gives them a presence across a speci c area of sea or coastline. The term ?L1? associated with a tender simply means that in order to get the max- imum number of craft for their  eet budget, the lowest bid typically wins. As specialist COTS solutions evolve to respond to these end-user requirements the percentage of COTS equipment on all fast craft is likely to increase. John Haynes, AFNI, is a Yachtmaster Ocean and Advanced Powerboat Instructor. Subject matter expertise includes high speed craft consultancy, product development and specialist training. He is Operations Director of Shock Mitigation and founder of the RIB & High Speed Craft Directory that brings together specialist boats and equipment for the professional sector. www.marinelink.com MN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 33MN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 335/20/2014 10:21:01 AM5/20/2014 10:21:01 AM