Athel von Koettlitz in Custody in El Ferrol

Greenpeace activists from the Rainbow Warrior protest against Spanish whaling in the North Atlantic. The activists placed their inflatables in front of Spanish whaler Ibsa III making it difficult for the harpooners to hit their targets. The Rainbow Warrior was arrested and forced to the naval base at El Ferrol. The Rainbow Warrior remained in custody for 5 months. The Spanish authorities were demanding that Greenpeace paid 10 million pesetas to compensate the whaling company for estimated losses before they would release the vessel. On the night of november 8, 1980, the Rainbow Warrior quietly escaped the naval base. The Greenpeace flagship made it to freedom and a warm welcome in Jersey.