UK intercepts Argentine boat ‘snooping’ near the Falklands

AN ARGENTINE naval ship has been caught “snooping for oil” in Falklands waters, the Navy has revealed.

The patrol vessel Clyde was scrambled to see off a ship thought to be prodding military defences in seas off the Falkland Islands on Sunday.

The Argentinian survey ship, Puerto Deseado, switched off its satellite tracker and sailed up to the edge of British territorial waters.

Clyde, which is currently stationed in the Falkland Islands, reacted swiftly after the Argentine vessel changed course and speed towards the 12-mile territorial limit.

The stand-off ended when Puerto Deseado, which carries equipment to investigate the depths of the ocean, retreated and turned on its tracker again. The ship returned to port the next day.

Nick Childs of the International Institute for Strategic Studies described it as a fairly minor incident, especially when compared with the military probing straight after the Falklands war.

Cdr Tom Sharpe, a former captain of the frigate St Albans, suggested the Argentine ship had been snooping for oil reserves. He thought the response from the Clyde had been timely, proportional and appropriate.

“Not intercepting for fear of being seen to overreact or, worse still, because of insufficient resources – using ‘not wishing to over-react’ as an excuse – is unacceptable,” he said.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “This was unusual activity rather than illegal or confrontational. We are comfortable with vessels working in that area, but it was the course and speed [of the Argentine ship] towards the islands which was unusual.”