Its responsibilities include territorial defence, patrolling Barbados' territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as conducting maritime law enforcement, counter-narcotic, search and rescue, fisheries and environmental protection and the enforcement of port & harbour regulations.

With the declaration of the Republic on 30 November 2021, HMBS was replaced as part of the removal of symbols of the monarchy with BCGS.

[2][3] Named after the Barbados Defence Force's (BDF) first chief-of-staff Colonel Leonard Banfield, the vessel docked at the BCGS Pelican, the Coast Guard's new headquarters on Spring Garden, St Michael, around 8 a.m.

The Dutch vessel, built by Damen Group, now takes the Coast Guard's fleet to 11, including the 26-year-old flagship BCGS Trident.

In terms of manpower, the Coast Guard, which now numbers 127 full-time personnel, would be increased at a rate of about 30 per year over the period 2007 to 2011.