Two British environmental activists are among 21 crew members who say they are trapped on board the protest vessel Bandero, which was seized by Icelandic authorities last Thursday after attempting to disrupt whaling operations. The crew, from the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, allege they are being denied basic rights, including access to lawyers and communication with family, and are running low on supplies.
Armed boarding and detention
The Bandero was boarded by armed Icelandic special forces around midnight after it deployed a small boat to intercept the whaling vessel Hvalur 9. Iceland's Coast Guard stated that the Hvalur 9 requested assistance and that the Bandero ignored instructions to leave Icelandic waters. The crew say the boarding was 'terrifying and incredibly dramatic' and 'unnecessary'.
Manolya Adan, 36, a British marine environmentalist on board, described the ordeal: 'They boarded a moving ship – it was pretty scary. We were on the way out [of Icelandic waters]. They were armed to the teeth. The captain called us all and made sure we were all together on the bridge.'
Crew allegations of mistreatment
The crew claim their mobile phones were confiscated, and they have been prevented from leaving the ship, which is now docked in Reykjavík. They report that toilets cannot be flushed due to inadequate tank disposal, and that fresh produce is nearly exhausted. 'We're absolutely not allowed to leave the ship,' Adan said. 'They are guarding us and there is a huge warship still beside us. We've been told that we need to be here for four weeks, although we have also been told we will be deported immediately.'
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation alleges that personnel were forced to hand over their phones and denied the right to call loved ones. Adan added that officers 'blackmailed' crew members, offering a phone call in exchange for their pin codes. The lawyers organized by the foundation have not been allowed on board; instead, officers appointed legal counsel.
Interrogation concerns
During police interrogations, Adan claims she was pressured to sign documents in Icelandic that she did not understand. 'They had pieces of paper written in Icelandic which had already been printed out,' she said. 'They were pushing me to sign things that I did not understand. I felt coerced and I signed it because I was exhausted.' Other crew members reportedly lacked adequate translation.
Adan also alleged that a female crew member was observed while sleeping by an armed officer, and three others were made to wait in their underwear for hours in an Icelandic cell. The crew expressed frustration and fear, but also camaraderie: 'We are having to fend for ourselves with what we have.'
Iceland's response
Iceland's Ministry of Justice provided a statement to Metro, saying the operation was planned and executed successfully, with no injuries. The ministry affirmed that legal counsel and interpreters were appointed for all crew members, and that any complaints can be submitted to the Police Monitoring Committee. It also noted that deportation is pending a decision by the Directorate of Immigration.
The statement added: 'Iceland has consistently advocated sustainable utilisation of living marine resource and, with regard to whaling, maintains a science-based and strictly regulated approach.' The total permitted catch for 2026 has been reduced compared to previous years, and a comprehensive review of the legislative framework has been commissioned.
Context and ongoing impact
Commercial whaling has been banned globally since 1986, but Iceland is one of three countries that continue the practice. The crew's main frustration is their inability to continue their anti-whaling activities. 'We are here to protect the whales, and there is nothing we can do to control the barbaric practice,' Adan said.
The British Foreign Office is aware of the situation. Lucien Richardson, a British-French citizen on board, stated: 'We have been illegally detained on the Bandero. Because we are not allowed on Icelandic territory we are stuck here on the boat.' Paul Watson, 75, the foundation's founder, is not on board but has a history of confrontations with whaling vessels, including a five-month imprisonment in Greenland in 2024.
