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One
of the Indonesian ice boats that attempted to escape apprehension.
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HMAS
Gladstone.
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By
Graham Davis HMAS
Gladstone
(LCDR Michael Moore) has detained three large Indonesian “ice
boats” that attempted to escape apprehension off the Northern
Territory coast.
“One came to within 10-feet of Gladstone.
It had my heart going,” LCDR Moore told Navy News.
HMAS Gladstone’s crew had a busy time manoeuvering to achieve
the apprehensions whilst remaining safe.
Fears of collision arose when the ice-boats attempted to evade
capture.
The close calls came on two nights last month and took place while
Gladstone was doing Operation Cranberry patrols against illegal
fishermen in the Cape Wessel region of Northern Australia.
“On the Wednesday we found an ice boat [a large Type 3 fishing
craft carrying ice with which to preserve its catch], 16 nautical
miles inside the Australian Economic Zone (AEEZ),” LCDR Moore
said.
“When he saw us he made his best speed to leave the zone. “We
have a protocol which we follow.
“First, we call the vessel we want to stop on VHF radio and tell
him to stop or heave to and that we intend to board him “We also
flash our signal lamps and use signal flags and then come close
enough to allow us to use a loud hailer.
“My executive officer LEUT Michael Wright speaks pretty good Indonesian.
“If they don’t stop we position a rifleman on the bridge wing
where he can be readily seen by the fishermen, and tell him to
stop heave to or we will open fire.
“This all happened but they kept going.
“As Gladstone paralleled the Type 3, we were between 50 and 60-feet
apart, the fishermen threw the helm over.
LCDR Moore said he then ordered the ship’s RHIB to be launched
and the fishing boat boarded.
LEUT Wright and five sailors, all carrying side arms, went to
the fishing boat with the boarding party scaling the railing and
bringing the vessel to a halt.
“There was 500 kilograms of fresh fish on ice,” LCDR Moore said.
A steaming party stayed on board as Gladstone escorted the Type
back towards Australia and a rendezvous with a Customs launch
which took over the escort.
Four days later, following a tip off from a patrolling Coastwatch
plane, Gladstone was in action again.
“We found two ice boats inside the AEEZ, they were fishing about
four miles apart using the long line method.
Again the Indonesian vessels resorted to evasive tactics that
required the RHIB’s crew to react quickly to avoid collision.
“LEUT Wright went in the RHIB and apprehended the boat and crew
and once that vessel was secure, Gladstone proceeded to the other
fishing boat and ordered it to stop.
“I had to order full astern,” LCDR Moore said.
The two fishing boats were brought together, their crews formally
apprehended and steaming parties assigned to both for the trip
Gove.
