"This time, with the new ship, they can't lose us. If they can't shake us off, I am pretty confident we can stop them. If they get violent towards us I suppose it could get very physical. We are quite willing to instigate an international incident over this," Mr Watson said on departure.

[Captain Watson accused] Japan of putting pressure on New Zealand to remain silent. "This is like a police chief finding out that a bank robbery is in progress but refusing to tell his officers which bank because the thieves asked him not to," he said.