TRAWLER NETS SUBMARINE
A Danish trawler has made a surprise catch, scooping up a German submarine in its nets.
The trawler was fishing in the Skagerrak waters between Norway and Denmark, about 20 nautical miles off the Danish port of Hirtshals, when it made its unusual catch.
Danish sea rescue officials said the vessel was forced to rise to the surface but fortunately there were no injuries.
"The crew of the trawler was never in danger, they were more scared than anything else. And a German vessel helped the captured submarine to disentagle itself and continue on its route," a sea rescue duty officer said.
The German sub was taking part in Blue Game 2004 - a Nato manoeuvre involving 70 vessels from 16 countries.
This is not the first time a Danish fishing boat has had a close encounter with a submarine.
In March 1984, three crewmen were killed when their trawler was pulled to the bottom by a German submarine caught in its nets