Whisky offer to officer of frigate

Press, 26 February 1980, Page 3

Whisky offer to officer of frigate

PA Wellington The master of a Japanese squid boat who came on deck in his long-johns to dispute that he was fishing inside the 12-mile limit, gave the officer leading the boarding party three bottles of whisky for his captain, the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington heard yesterday. The officer, Lieutenant Jack Raymond Steer, gave evidence about the arrest of Fukuwa Maru No 1 by H.M.N.Z.S Waikato near Westport in January.

“I thought I wasn't supposed to take them, but it was an excitable situation, so 1 gave them to the captain for custody,” Lieutenant Steer said of the whisky episode on the squid boat. Charged are the master, [Kenichi Shimuzu, and its I fishing master, Kengo Kurosawa. | Lieutenant Steer ,said Shimuzu said he believed the i Fukuwa Maru was on the I high seas. i Witnesses made approximate reading from the boat’s radar, which was very difficult as the radar gave a poor picture because of bad weather. But the master disagreed strongly with it. He contended that the radar was picking up rain and cloud, not the New Zealand coast, Lieutenant Steer said.

Shimuzu then obtained a reading from the Waikato’s equipment which gave a clearer reading, showing the boat to be within the 12-mile limit, witness said. The Court heard evidence of radar and satellite readings the officers had taken and seen during the incident. The Waikato’s log, officers’ notes, charts, radar readings and echo tapes were entered as evidence.

If found guilty, the ship’s master could face a fine of up to $lOO,OOO and the boat and its catch could be confiscated.

Lieutenant Owen James Hanley, the Waikato’s watchmaster on the night the Fukuwa Maru was arrested, said it was one of a fleet of 26. It appeared to be at least 10 deg. further inland than the others. He said he took a radar reading on the boat and found it was 11 miles offshore. A later reading showed it to he 10.8 miles from the closest [land point, Three Steeples Rocks. As the Waikato drew nearer officers noted the boat had its sea anchor down and its bright intensity fishing lights on, squid was being hauled aboard.

The court also heard evidence yesterday from the staff officer, (navigation) Defence Headquarters (LieutenantCommander John Crownshaw), on the workings and accuracy of radar and satellite readings. The case is proceeding.