War?!

Two Portuguese war ships monitor the movements of the Borndiep during 24 hours to prevent the ship from entering national waters. The captain continues to ask for permission to enter the harbor of Figueira da Foz. Unfortunately the harbor authorities are not responding to its attempt to communicate.

The main Portuguese television channels have chartered a little boat to be able to visit the ship in international waters. Rebecca and Cristina join them and also take water and food for the crew on the Borndiep. Even though the weather is pleasant enough as the shuttle boat leaves, once the warships come into view it becomes gray and dark, and the sea choppy. It is almost as if the weather is supplementing the bleak and bleary outlook of the amount of help that can be offered to the Portuguese women calling the hotline.

The weather is so rough that it is difficult to board the little rubber dinky that has been launched to approach the ship close enough to be able to transfer the bags with food. Throwing plastic bags of food onboard was not a very difficult maneuver. Bringing Portuguese women onto the ship however, is a much more difficult problem. Not only are there obvious problems with seasickness on small boats rolling on the ocean, but also it is also hard to convince ship owners that even though there are huge military boats observing every move they make, it is perfectly legal to board a Dutch ship in international waters.