Hval secures legal attachment of Bandero

The district commissioner in West Iceland has ordered the attachment of the vessel Bandero at the request of Hval hf, the Icelandic whaling company, mbl.is reports. Hval says it has a damages claim against Paul Watson, the vessel’s owner, over actions carried out off Iceland.

According to a statement from Hval, Bandero’s actions repeatedly forced the company’s vessels to leave their planned routes. This caused financial losses, including higher fuel costs.

Bandero was towed from Miðbakki to Akranes earlier this week. Hval said the attachment was necessary because, without it, the chances of enforcing its damages claim would have been significantly reduced. The district commissioner agreed that the conditions for the attachment had been met.

Hval now plans to bring the case before a district court to confirm the attachment and pursue its damages claim.

Bandero belongs to the Paul Watson organisation and has been off Iceland as part of the organisation’s actions against whaling.