| Net cutters | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Klippur.jpg) Net cutters | |
| Place of origin |  Iceland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1958–present |
| Used by | Iceland  Norway  Brazil |
| Wars | Cod Wars Lobster War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | R.Adm Pétur Sigurðsson |
| Manufacturer | Icelandic Coast Guard Armory and others |
| No. built | unknown |
| Variants | normal and explosive versions |
| Specifications | |
| Length | approx. 2 metres |
Net cutters, or trawlwire cutters, were secret weapons[1] employed by the Icelandic Coast Guard during the latter two Cod Wars to cut the trawling wires of foreign fishing trawlers working within the then newly claimed Exclusive Fisheries zones.
They were invented by Commander Pétur Sigurðsson, Director of the Coast Guard, with assistance from Friðrik Teitsson from the Icelandic lighthouse institution and Tómas Sigurðsson, who were both ironmongers. The invention was known as the trawlwire cutter, and was tested in 1958—but not used until 5 September 1972, after every Icelandic ship had been equipped with it.[2]
- ^ Sæmundsson, Sveinn (1984) Guðmundur skipherra Kjærnested, Örn og Örlygur. [Reykjavík], p. 187-189.
- ^ Jónsson, Hannes (1982). "Third fisheries dispute: 50-mile limit". Friends in Conflict – The Anglo-Icelandic Cod Wars and the Law of the Sea. London: C. Hurst and Co. (Publishers) Ltd. p. 136. ISBN 0-905838-78-5.