Police flagship boat the is set to be put up for sale as Police ready themselves for the arrival of a state-of-the-art replacement.

The new, larger 16-metre Australian built vessel is due in October and has a longer range than the ageing which was gifted by the US Government in 1996.

Marine Police Sgt. Keith Senior said a check would have to be made with the Americans before the was auctioned off.

The new four-man craft has a range of more than 400 nautical miles and all the latest high-tech communications equipment including GPS while the is limited to radar and radio.

The new craft has a cruising speed of 20 knots and a top speed of 26 knots.

It is the last of seven such vessels being built by Austal, with the other six being delivered to Police in Australia.

The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, is the end of a long selection process in which a number of boat builders were looked at.

Sgt. Senior has just returned from a trip to Australia with the Police Commissioner to look at the craft.

It will join two Boston Whalers and two inflatables in the Police fleet.

School children of all ages are being encouraged to name the new boat by emailing pmrbps.bm and giving their name, their school?s name, the name they suggest calling the boat and a few paragraphs saying why that name should be chosen.

The winner will get a trophy and an i-Pod while their class will enjoy a trip on the boat and their school with get a $300 donation for library books.

The competition starts today and finishes next Friday.