Ship searched after al Qaeda tip

Customs intensified checks on a ship at the centre of an international terrorism scare when it berthed at Lyttelton this month.

Overseas reports yesterday suggested officials in the United States warned the South Korean Government that some of the Athena's crew were linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist group, behind the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington in 2001.

A Customs Service spokeswoman would not comment on what information had been received.

The foreign-owned Athena and its crew were subject to top-level security checks after Customs received "information of interest" about the ship.

It had visited Auckland and Tauranga, before arriving in Lyttelton on October 2 and leaving for South Korea on October 4.

It is understood the Athena, which regularly carries logs, fertiliser and cement filler to New Zealand, was due to arrive in the South Korean port of Kunsan last night.

The customs spokeswoman said ships were routinely checked, but the Athena was a special case.

Scrutiny of the Athena included identification checks on all crew and a full search of the ship.

Nothing of concern was found, the spokeswoman said.

The New Zealand agent for the vessel would not comment and referred inquiries to Carter Holt Harvey, which was not available for comment.

Customs Minister Rick Barker had been fully briefed, but a spokesman said he did not have anything to add.

Acting district commander for the Canterbury police, Inspector Derek Erasmus, said police were aware of the situation, as were other Government agencies.

Customs was taking the lead role.

- NZPA