Neutral shipping/ports used for espionage

[Sawpatin]

I'd like to gather examples of neutrally-flagged ships that were used for espionage during the war, as well as neutral ports that were used for espionage by belligerent vessels. Any theatre is relevant.

Two examples that come to my mind:

- The Portuguese fishing vessel Gil Eannes in the Atlantic was used as a spy ship (via its radio operator Gastao Ferraz) to transmit info to the Germans about Allied fleet movements in the leadup to Operation Torch. Ferraz was found out and arrested by the Brits in time before the invasion, after some of his coded messages were intercepted by MI5.

- German ships in Portuguese Goa were found out to be transmitting info about Allied ship movements to Uboats in the region. The British organized 'Operation Creek' to board one of these ships and silence the transmitters.

Anyone have other examples to share?

[Carl Schwamberger]

The British Naval Certification system was a massive information collection system run in a very large number of neutral ports. Some might argue it was not a 'espionage' activity, tho the purpose was to identify cargos suspect of violation of the British blockade of Germany. Also the system used clandestine agents as well as the primary public or open certification system.

[OpanaPointer]

Algeciras, any documentation on that as a "bloody nest of spies!"