Off to sea: Commissioner of Customs & Excise Richard Yuen (centre) officiates at the commissioning ceremony of new patrol launches.

The Customs & Excise Department has commissioned three new launches to boost anti-smuggling enforcement.

The 30m craft have a maximum speed of 26 knots and feature a host of modern technology which offer greater manoeuvrability and equipment.

The vessels replace launches which have been in service for more than two decades.

Customs' fleet now has 21 vessels - five patrol launches, four high-speed pursuit craft, two shallow-water launches, two harbour launches and eight inflatable craft.