Icelandic Coast Guard intercepts Paul Watson's ship over location equipment

Iceland's Coast Guard intercepted the ship of prominent whale protection activist Paul Watson as it approached the country's 200-mile economic zone. The vessel, the Bandero, was reportedly not broadcasting its location, prompting the Coast Guard to request it be turned on.

According to Ásgeir Erlendsson, spokesperson for the Coast Guard, the crew claimed the positioning equipment was malfunctioning. In response, the Coast Guard demanded hourly location updates, which they expect the crew to provide. Erlendsson noted the Coast Guard's aircraft is equipped with advanced technology to monitor activity within Iceland's waters.

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The crew of the machine requested that the ship show itself on the remote monitoring system as it should according to international law, but we received the answer that the ship's positioning equipment was broken.

Watson has publicly stated his intention to stop whaling in Iceland by any means necessary. His current voyage is a reference to a 1986 incident where his organization sank two whaling ships. When asked about potential interventions, Erlendsson stated that while the economic zone is international waters with freedom of navigation, the Coast Guard would respond if lives or safety were threatened.

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The Coast Guard cannot comment on possible actions, but I point out that if lives and health of those in the maritime area around Iceland are threatened, the Coast Guard will respond.