Pursuers surround Viarsa 1

2003-08-27 15:03

Cape Town - The Uruguayan trawler Viarsa 1, suspected of poaching toothfish and pursued by South African, Australian and British vessels, was surrounded by its pursuers on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson reported.

Dave Murray of Smit Marine in Cape Town, owners of the South African tug John Ross, one of the pursuing vessels, said the John Ross was on one side of the Viarsa 1 on Wednesday morning while Australia's Southern Supporter was on the other side. A British fisheries control vessel, the Dorada, was astern of her, he said.

The Viarsa 1 was spotted early in August with its nets down in the southern ocean close to Heard and McDonald Islands, apparently poaching toothfish in the Australian economic exclusion zone. The Australians gave chase and enlisted the help of South Africa and Britain.

The ship ignored several calls to heave to and allow inspectors to board.

Murray said the John Ross was hired by the Australian government to take fisheries personnel to the Southern Supporter, which had been pursuing the Viarsa 1 since it was caught poaching.

The Australian inspectors were transferred to the Southern Supporter on Wednesday, said Murray.

The Viarsa was still steaming, and the poor weather precluded boarding attempts, he said. Such attempts would probably be made from the Southern Supporter.

Meanwhile another South African ship, the armed icebreaker SA Agulhas, was doing her best to catch up with the Viarsa 1 and her three pursuers.

The Agulhas carried a helicopter that might be used in the boarding operation.

However, a storm on Wednesday morning had brought her speed down to nine knots instead of twelve and her master, Captain David Hall, could not tell when he might catch up.

"It could be next week," he said. "It all depends on the weather."

- SAPA