Katherine asked the police officers to borrow clothing from the research crew to help them blend in. Dressed as marine biologists, they would approach the cargo ship under the pretense of conducting oceanographic studies. The vessel’s current location made it an ideal point for their fabricated research on fish migration.
Once in disguise, Katherine and four officers boarded a small dinghy stored at the back of the research vessel. The waves lapped gently as they drew closer to the cargo ship. Katherine stood at the bow, raised her voice, and called up, “This is Captain Hartley from the National Marine Research Division!”