RI boats try to ram Australian vessel

RI boats try to ram Australian vessel

AUSTRALIA: Two Indonesian boats tried to ram an Australian navy patrol vessel after being caught fishing illegally off Australia's north coast, the government said on Wednesday.

Australian Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said the boats and the 19 crew aboard were being towed to northern Australia after being caught with almost 1,000 kilograms of fresh fish and dried shark fins.

The fishermen had initially tried to flee after being detected on Tuesday and when that failed, the crew aboard the wooden boats attempted to ram the patrol boat, HMAS Gladstone.

"It is a credit to the crew of the Gladstone, who were able to take control without any damage to the vessel or injury to the crew, and then make the arrest," Macdonald said in a statement.

He said the fishing boats were equipped with global positioning system (GPS) plotters and depth sounders.

"These are not traditional village fishermen who are lost and far from home," Macdonald said.

"They know exactly where they are and the illegality of their actions." --AFP