To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the chain of command is for personnel of a boarding party deployed from a Royal Navy ship. (145059)

The Royal Marine Officer commands the boarding team during the boarding operation up to the point that the FLEET Protection Group Royal Marines team is inserted and the target vessel is secured. The Royal Navy Boarding Officer will then be handed tactical command for the search operations on the vessel. Both Officers, when in charge, are responsible to the Commanding Officer of the Ship.