During the latter stages of the mid-20th-century fishing disputes known as the Cod Wars, the Icelandic Coast Guard introduced a new tool that altered the course of naval fisheries enforcement: the net cutter, or trawlwire cutter. This deceptively simple device was designed to cut the trawling wires that foreign trawlers used to haul fishing nets on the newly claimed Icelandic fishing grounds.
Icelandic invention at sea
The net cutter was the result of collaboration between Commander Pétur Sigurðsson, who led the Coast Guard, and two skilled ironmongers, Friðrik Teitsson and Tómas Sigurðsson. With help from the Icelandic lighthouse service, they crafted a practical tool that contained no moving parts but packed a significant impact. Although tested as early as 1958, it remained in reserve until September 1972, when it was deployed after all Icelandic patrol vessels had been equipped with it.
The device quickly made its mark. On 5 September 1972, the patrol ship ICGV Ægir, commanded by Guðmundur Kjærnested, approached a trawler fishing illegally near Hornbanki. After a tense exchange featuring music, radio insults and defensive tactics from the trawler’s crew, the Icelandic vessel deployed the net cutter 290 metres behind it. Moving alongside the trawler, Ægir sliced through one of the wire cables towing the ship’s nets. The incident ended with an eruption of anger from the trawler’s crew, who responded by throwing rubbish and a fire axe, and sent a barrage of radio abuse that eventually led to the vessel’s identification as Peter Scott (H103).
From surprise to international adoption
The advent of net cutters caught the trawling world unawares. British fishing crews initially believed the Icelanders were using some sophisticated, high-technology apparatus. In reality, the design was robust and extremely simple, ideal for operating in North Atlantic conditions.
The influence of the net cutter spread beyond Iceland’s patrol boats. Norway equipped its own Coast Guard ships with modified net cutters, using them on occasions against Icelandic trawlers near Svalbard. Early attempts to deploy these devices from small inflatable boats, however, fell short: one set was even captured by Icelandic fishermen. Norwegian authorities adjusted their approach after discussions with their Icelandic counterparts, giving up the idea of inflatables and continuing with patrol vessels instead. Some debate arose in Icelandic media over the legality and technical differences of the Norwegian modifications.
Elsewhere, the Brazilian Navy employed their own versions of net cutters during the Lobster War from 1961 to 1963, targeting French fishermen operating off the Brazilian coast. The Icelandic invention had quietly triggered innovation and debate in maritime law enforcement far beyond its original arena.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
