Trawler Nets Torpedo and Continues Fishing

Peterhead Port, Scotland Fishing trawler Opportinus IV pulled up a munition item in one of their nets. However, rather than immediately reporting the find to authorities, the captain of the vessel decided to strap the munition to the hull of the boat so he could continue fishing. Reportedly, the captain did not feel as though the crew or vessel was in any danger from the munition so he did not see a reason to cut short his trip.

When the vessel returned from its fishing trip a week after discovering the munition, the find was reported to the Peterhead Port Harbor Master's office. The Harbor Master called the police who responded and evacuated the area and workers at the nearby Denholm Seafoods factory.

Army and Royal Navy EOD teams were called in for technical support. EOD safely moved the munition, identified as a WWII era torpedo, onto a small lifeboat. The munition was then transported back out to sea off the coast between Peterhead and St Fergus where it was safely detonated.

In an interview with a local news station, the 59-year old captain stated : "I saw it in my net, strapped it down on the hull of the boat and kept fishing." . There was no way I was going to be coming home early."