Coast Guard reportedly boards anti-whaling vessel

May 11, 1999
Web posted at: 12:51 p.m. EDT (1651 GMT)

NEAH BAY, Washington (CNN) -- Two armed members of the Coast Guard boarded the anti-whaling vessel, Bulletproof, which was following a Makah Indian whaling crew off the coast of Washington, according to the skipper of the Bulletproof.

Skipper Jonathan Paul said the boarding occurred at about 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. EDT) Monday. The Coast Guard searched the boat for weapons and informed Paul that the vessel would have to be taken to a port for the Coast Guard to continue its investigation, according to Paul, who also said one of the Coast Guardsmen pointed a shotgun at him.

He said the Coast Guard told him that the Makah had accused members of the anti-whaling crew of aiming weapons at them. A search turned up no weapons, he said.

The 42-foot Bulletproof, accompanied by a 19-foot Zodiac inflatable, trailed the Makah crew during an apparent whale hunt. The smaller boat has continued to shadow the Makah crew, Paul said.

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