Maritime force’s phantom provider of credit, might Spooner have said? (10)
I believe the answer is:
coastguard
'maritime force's' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for coastguard that I've seen before include "Maritime force for defence, rescue, prevention of smuggling etc" , "One on the lookout for smugglers" , "Member of) marine rescue organisation" .)