Here a defense of the Coast Guard's actions. Oceanic trade generates great economic value and requires seafarers. Seafaring is inherently dangerous, but the ra

Here a defense of the Coast Guard's actions. Oceanic trade generates great economic value and requires seafarers. Seafaring is inherently dangerous, but the rate of death of seafarers is much less than it would be if it weren't for coast guards, one of whose main functions is rescuing seafarers in distress. This rescuing function is expensive, so one of the rules of the sea that the countries of the world have agreed on is to make it illegal to do anything that puts too great an economic stress on the rescuing function. It is OK with me. Try to mount a poorly-planned and poorly-funded journey to the South Pole and the same thing will happen to you if they catch you--for the same reason.