With a microwave, sofas and more than comfortable cabins, it seems more like a rich man's toy.

But looks are deceptive and the Police have no doubt that the latest addition to the Service will prove an effective tool in the on-going fight against drugs.

The Blue Heron arrived in Bermuda courtesy of the New Jersey Drug Enforcement Agency, filling a huge gap in the needs of the Island's Police Service.

Over the last two years, for instance, more than 2,000 yachts have arrived in Bermuda -- but none were approached at sea by Police.

Powered by two 420 horsepower engines, The Blue Heron is capable of 18 knots.

She is equipped with radar with a 15-mile range and depth sounders to help navigate Bermuda's reefs.

It is hoped that in the near future she will carry an inflatable boat to help Police officers board other boats.

In addition, the sofas will disappear as they are replaced with tables so Police can set up a control room within the boat to coordinate an operation.

Although out of service for two years before coming to Bermuda she is fully operational and will serve a number of purposes including drug interdiction, search and rescue and helping to check on illegal fish pots.

She will also help to check for stolen yachts -- currently Interpol supplies the posters which are stuck onto office walls with no way to check the seas -- and even look for illegal aliens.

Officers point out that at present there is no way of knowing if people are coming to Bermuda illegally by sea.

They also point out that although she is not the fastest thing on the water -- some boats on the Island will leave the Blue Heron standing in their wakes -- word will soon get around that Bermuda will be checking yachts.

As Insp. Steve Petty of the Marine Section says: "We now have the ideal platform to get out there. It is the ideal platform for narcotics.'' Crew will be trained and officers picked who can man the boat when on an operation. Once a target boat is located, the Blue Heron will not be able to tie up alongside.

She will have to launch an inflatable -- so officers will have to be trained in that manoeuvre -- and enough officers will have to be available to secure the suspect boat.

Insp. Petty added: "The boat is fully operational. It is a question of identifying people from the narcotics division.

"It is an important new addition to the Service. Last year 999 yachts came into Bermuda and the year before that 1,200 came in and not one was approached by the Police.''