Search of cargo ship for terrorist material 'may take several weeks'

Specialist search teams will take several weeks to complete a detailed examination of a cargo ship seized in an anti-terrorist operation in the Channel, police said yesterday.

The extension was ordered even though it looked increasingly unlikely that any weapons or dangerous substances would be found on the MV Nisha, which was stopped after a tip-off from a foreign intelligence agency. The agency said the ship could be carrying "terrorist material" for Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.

Anti-terrorist branch officers who are searching the ship say they have found no noxious, hazardous or dangerous substances on board.

The vessel, which was seized at 8am on Friday in international waters 30 miles off the Sussex coast, is likely to remain moored at Sandown Bay, off the Isle of Wight, for the foreseeable future. It will then be moved to a new mooring, which is yet to be decided.

The search, which is taking longer than expected because of the ship's size and design, continues amid reports that it could be one of 20 ships being sought by British and American intelligence services.

The Department of Transport said that all British ports were on high alert amid fears that there were ships at sea laden with chemicals or arms. Scotland Yard declined to comment on a search for other vessels.

The 450ft Nisha was seized in a raid by members of the Royal Navy, anti-terrorist police and Customs officers as it headed for a sugar refinery on the Thames in east London carrying 26,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

Had it continued its journey, it would have passed near the capital's tallest building, the Canary Wharf tower, whose security was tightened after the 11 September attacks. The Nisha was tracked by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland and intercepted by four inflatable boats. The frigate left the area on Saturday after the ship was moored.

The police said that the ship posed no danger to the public and the crew remained on board and were co-operative. When they would be allowed to leave the vessel was not clear.

The ship is operated by the Great Eastern Shipping Company, based in Bombay, India. Concern was raised because it had stopped en route in the east African country of Djibouti, a neighbour of Somalia, which is known to have links to Mr bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network.

Sudhir Mulji, the chairman of the British branch of the shipping company, said the vessel had stopped in Djibouti to drop off American grain as part of a food aid shipment.