Sir Ian Wood built the biggest independent fishing empire in Britain. Taking his firm from 3 to 40 trawlers in the space of two years.

 

However in the 1960s, when his father sent off three boats on a fishing expedition to Iceland. They got more than they bargained for when Icelandic Special forces lay in wait....took the crew hostage. The Incident went International with the British Prime minister being summonsed to the commons to diffuse. Part of the story extracted from the new Book Sir Ian Wood Aberdeen's Billionaire - Below

​

​

COD WARS - Extracted from the new Book Sir Ian WOOD Aberdeen's Billionaire 

​

The Aberdeen fishing fleet had a longstanding history of operating in Icelandic waters dating back centuries. British trawlers and whalers from the 1800s were not only tolerated but welcomed. UK Sailors would dock, sell their catches directly into the bustling fish markets in Icelandic ports. Ian's grandfather, William, served as a skipper for many vessels fishing in Iceland during the 1920s and this family connection and the reputation of the Wood family was well-established there.

 

During the 1960s there was continued dissatisfaction among Icelandic fishermen due to British trawlers being allowed access to their rich fishing grounds which were to a degree, overfished. This foreign fleet was harvesting fish at such a rate, the Icelandic government warned of a complete depletion of fish stocks in just over a decade. Iceland's primary motivation for seeking its EEC membership was to secure access for its own fishermen to the lucrative European fish markets, including those in Germany, France, Spain, and the UK. To secure those market rights, however, meant allowing fishing boats from other European countries access to fish their waters. However, once their waters were opened up and the arrival of major armadas of foreign trawlers commenced, Iceland grew reluctant to adhere to the agreed-upon rules as part of their EEC membership.

 

Due to Iceland's proximity to Scotland, a large number of fishing vessels operating out of ports like Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh were embarking on the perilous yet highly profitable trips to Iceland. In an attempt to dissuade foreign fleets from fishing, the Icelandic fleet were now starting to physically attack foreign vessels. These encounters escalated from minor skirmishes to more intense clashes. The Icelandic fleet, well versed in propaganda and disinformation tactics, meticulously planned and executed attacks, putting both foreign and Icelandic vessels in danger of damage. After each attack, the Icelandic fleet would return to Reykjavík promptly convening press conferences to their already sympathetic media, to accuse the British and European fishing fleets of the very aggression and intimidation tactics they themselves had initiated. In some instances, Icelandic fishermen would storm foreign ships commando style, deliberately severing valuable trawling nets in acts of extreme sabotage. John Wood had around six vessels engaged in fishing operations in the Icelandic area during the 1960s, making Wood's vessels prime targets. Just when it seemed the situation couldnt escalate further, the Icelandic government directly intervened and started dispatching naval gunboats to intercept and start attacking foreign fishing vessels. The Icelandic government's objective was to get rid of foreign trawlers entirely. They were aware the European Union wouldnt offer any protection of their fishing grounds, and that to achieve their aim, they would need to take matters into their own hands. Iceland's EU membership stipulated that all European fishing vessels had access to fish a minimum of 4 miles from the Icelandic coast. However, as the 1950s progressed, Iceland enacted its own decree, prohibiting any vessels from fishing within 12 miles of its coast. Then by 1958, they sought to increase this even further. This contravened Iceland's EEU agreement, and the British & foreign Governments were unwilling to accept these new imposed boundary limits,  considering they had adhered to their part of the bargain allowing those Icelandic trawlers to land and sell fish in European markets without tariffs. 

 

John Wood's vessels were fishing within the established mileage from shore limits as best as they could. While John officially advised his skippers to stay outside the agreed-upon mileage limits, it was common knowledge the most abundant cod shoals were typically located inside the 12-mile exclusion zone. This led to some vessels being accused of fishing inside that zone. The British government at the time, refrained from directly engaging in the dispute, and adhered to the EU's established rules to which Iceland was a signatory. By that letter of the law, John Woods fishing vessels were fully legal to fish within 4 miles of the coast. Behind the scenes however, the British government exerted pressure on British fishermen to try and adhere to the 12 mile limit imposed by the Icelandic government, which the fishermen refused. As the attacks on the Scottish fleet escalated, the UK Government dispatched its own Royal Navy gunboats to provide escort and protection, leading to direct confrontation between the British and Icelandic Navies, causing an International diplomatic incident. Any idea the British Navy held that bringing their own gunships would deter further attacks severely underestimated the determination of the Icelandic fishermen and their navy. Skirmishes persisted with warning shots coming increasingly closer to the British fleet. The British government was in an uncomfortable position on the international stage, seen as the aggressor toward a small, friendly fishing nation, simply seeking to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of its own people. The Icelandic government stood firm, insisting on enforcement of their own self created 12-mile fishing exclusion zone, and showed no inclination to negotiate further, despite the fact they were in breach of their EEU membership. Under international pressure, the UK government reluctantly acquiesced to the new 12-mile limit. Many countries on the global stage believed the EU had unfairly granted fishing rights to its member states, viewing Iceland as the party being unfairly exploited.

 

In April 1963, while his son Ian was still at university, John became embroiled in arguably the most significant UK event during the Cod Wars. On April 20, 1963, John Wood dispatched Trawler Captain John Smith and eight crew members on the Trawler Millwood to Iceland. They set course hoping for a bountiful haul, as they had achieved many times before. The relationship between the Icelandic Navy and the fishing fleets of both countries had been relatively peaceful, with no reported attacks on UK fishing vessels in over a year. John had no reason to anticipate any trouble on this fishing expedition either. The Millwood, owned by the Burghwood Fishing Company (which, in turn, was owned by John Wood), had a prosperous trip, securing over 480 boxes of cod—an impressive catch. As the vessel turned southward to return to British waters, Captain Smith caught the distant hum of powerful diesel engines, a sound he knew did not belong to another fishing vessel. He had heard that sound before and it hadn't been a pleasant experience. Concern crept over him, he understood relations with the Icelandic government and UK fishing fleets could see things escalate quickly. Captain Smith's unease was justified, as rapidly approaching from a distance was the Icelandic Navy Gun Ship "Odinn". In a bid to evade the oncoming vessel, Skipper Smith turned his vessel 180 degrees at full speed. 

 

As the Millwood raced southward, Skipper Smith urgently radioed a message to Mr. A.G. Willox, John Wood’s company manager back in Aberdeen. Upon receiving the message which by the time it had been received, had come through 5 other fishing vessels, Mr Willox promptly contacted John Wood who was instructed to come to the office immediately. While Skipper Smith communicated with Aberdeen via radio, a resounding explosion reverberated through the air. The Icelandic Navy, in pursuit, had just fired a number of large 50mm shells over the bow of the Millwood as it gave chase. In his office in Aberdeen, John Wood, accompanied by a curious young Ian, sought to gather details about the unfolding drama. Ian had caught snippets of the conversation and now wanted to grasp the full scope of events himself. John harboured deep concerns, not only for the safety of the vessel but, most importantly, for the lives of the crew. Ian, though typically composed, couldn't deny the excitement and intrigue of the unfolding drama. The drama had also caught the attention of the British Royal Navy, who intercepted Captain Smith's urgent mayday call back to Aberdeen. Responding swiftly, the British gunboat HMS Palliser was dispatched to protect the Aberdeen trawler. Closing in on the Millwood, the Icelandic Navy ship Odinn proceeded to smash into the fleeing trawler. Icelandic commandos leaped onto the deck of the Millwood, armed, demanding to see the captain. The crew offered no resistance. The Icelandic Navy's commanding officer informed Captain Smith that his vessel would be confiscated and sailed under arrest to Reykjavik. Just before sailing the captured vessel back to Reykjavik, Captain Smith managed to send a radio message to John Wood advising him of events. HMS Palliser arrived a little late to the party; by that time, the distressed fishing vessel had already entered Icelandic territorial waters. The British Royal Navy wisely retreated, careful not to provoke actual conflict by attempting to reclaim the vessel in foreign sovereign waters. With the Millwood now towed into Reykjavik harbour, the crew were subjected to questioning by the Icelandic police before being eventually released. Another vessel owned by John Wood was in the vicinity, the vessel Juniper, under the command of skipper George Macintosh heard events unfold over the radio. He planned to sail into Reykjavik and bring back the released crew. However, this carried the risk of potential arrest for himself, as the captain of a vessel that could also be accused of illegal fishing in Icelandic waters. Approximately 27 miles from Reykjavik, the Juniper received a radio message from the British Naval Gunboat HMS Palliser confirming its entry into Icelandic waters was acceptable and that he wouldn't face arrest by the Icelandic authorities for doing so. Most of the crew from the captured vessel were taken to the Island of Orkney, a British territory just south of Iceland. The remaining three crew members stayed on board the Millwood while it remained in Reykjavik harbour, including Chief Engineer George Moir. The Millwood sustained significant damage after the collision with the gunboat Odinn, and George was concerned the vessel may sink if the hull damage wasn't repaired quickly. Amidst the chaos and confusion, the Icelandic government realised that they had unintentionally allowed Captain John Smith to be released, and he was now in Orkney away from Icelandic jurisdiction. According to international maritime law, only the skipper could be held legally responsible for maritime offences. The Icelandic government intended to prosecute hard, as an example to discourage other trawler captains from fishing in Icelandic waters. The Icelandic government promptly issued a formal communication to the British government demanding the return of Captain John Smith. The British government believed that the best course of action was to comply with the Icelandic request and return Captain John Smith into the custody of the Icelandic authorities, aiming to avoid a significant diplomatic escalation. Prime Minister of the day Harold Macmillan directed his deputy, Anthony Eden, to formally request that John Wood send Captain John Smith back to Iceland to face charges in an Icelandic court. However, there were government reservations about this approach too, it might be seen as though the government was siding against its own British fishing fleet, potentially leading to unrest within the fishing community.