Page 13 - Willem Barentsz

Sea were on a favourable course for us. Anyway, we had a great season. For understandable reasons,
we made as little noise as possible on the medium wave bands so as not to attract attention of the
competition. An interesting encounter during this trip is that at the end of the period at Clarence and
Elephant Island we had a confrontation with an Argentinian warship. The Argentines already claimed
that area (The Falkland Island Dependencies). One of our catchers was forced to stop and a group of
Argentinian navy men came on board. The captain/gunner was informed that he was fishing in
Argentine territory. An Argentinian asked where the factory ship was. "Hundreds of miles away," was
the answer, but we were just behind the horizon and had already been informed by the VHF. If we
wanted to continue fishing, that was no objection, if we asked permission from the Argentinian
Government. That would of course have meant recognition of their rights and so it did not happen.

A day out fishing.

In the morning at a quarter to eight, the chief takes over the watch of the second R/O. There are
already 6 fish in the plot, and it promises to be a good day. The weather is good, the wind South 3,
from the ice, a sharp horizon. The last fish of yesterday's catch have been pulled on deck of the
factory ship, and we are steaming full speed towards the fleet. Almost all catchers are within 40 miles
and in VHF range. At 07.55 am it is on the VHF: "Hello Barendsz catchers, good morning, the beacon is
on air. At 480 kHz the bearing signals are given, we don't disturb anyone anyway, and at exactly eight
o'clock the second roll call of the day is: "Hello AM1, good morning, Anders, what's your bearing
please?". "Hello Barendsz, AM1 here, good morning, Gerard we are in 53 degrees and chasing". "Ok,
distance please". The distance signal goes out at 3191 kHz and return at 1995 kHz. "Distance 36 miles,
Hello AM2....” Etc. The AM8 does not report, only a cry from the hunting bridge by an African sailor:
"We have a fin whale on that hook". (In Afrikaans). The AM15 already has a fish alongside and just
picks up a second one. The AM22 comes in on 1995 kHz, she is on the right flank against the edge of
the ice and 75 miles away. Sometimes such a solitary position pays off, but this time the activity is on
the left flank and so the 22 is steaming in that direction. Maybe they will encounter something along
the way. In any case, the lookout in the "barrel" remains at his post and peers down the horizon for a
"blast". The tanker and the freezer ship "Awazu Maru" are in sight. At 08.10 hours the AM8 reports.
"We have just flagged a fin whale, red flag number 26, beacon number 36, 2105 kHz character B,
radar reflector, but no lamp. Distance from the first flag of the day 7 miles 85 degrees". The AM8 is
gauged and measured and then the flag is put in the plot. "Where is the activity at the moment?", is
asked. The AM5 and the AM19 are hunting. “Hello nitten, otten her, kan du sende noen streker
Magne, er det mange vhal der borte?”. (Hello nine, eight here, can you give some stripes (bearing
signals) Magne, are there a lot of whales there?) "Yes”, AM8 answers the 9, "We are chasing two and
see three more on the port bow, signals are coming". The 9 gives bearing signals and the Barendsz
keeps bearing, always bearing hundreds of times a day, because we must stay informed as well as
possible. If the direction finder shows even the slightest deviation, it is recalibrated with the help of a
cathcer. A while later, the AM5 reports that he has the second fish alongside and he asks what the
orders are. In consultation with the captain, it has already been decided to have the AM15 pick up
another fish and then deliver it. Consultation is always with the captain and the mates. "Eight miles in
135 degrees, AM15, there is a flag of the AM19, blue flag number 18, beacon 24 and then deliver, we
are also on course to that position". The AM19 calls the AM15 with the announcement that there is a
plastic bag with the store lists on the flagpole. "Make sure that's okay Tommy and then deliver them
to the factory". "OK 19, will be fine". The AM20 asks if he can shoot sperm whales. "How many do
you see?". "Only two at the moment". The captain consults with the factory manager, but for two
sperm whales it is not possible to switch a part of the system. On weak days that is possible, but not
today. "Sorry AM20, no sperms today". The tanker also thinks he sees something, but there is hardly
any reaction to it. It must be minke-hvale. What do those laymen on a tanker know about whales?