strictly coming from it from the standpoint of the prize regulations, i would say -
it depends
Quote:
ARTICLE VIII
BANNED GOODS
The following items and substances are considered banned goods; merchant vessels engaged in the carriage of these materials or with such materials visible on their decks, may be attacked without warning.
1. Weapons of any kind
2. Weapon parts or components
3. Weapon accessories
4. Ammunition
5. Ammunition components
6. Bombs or their components or accessories
7. Torpedoes or their components or accessories
8. Mines or their components or accessories
9. Projectiles intended for shooting or throwing by hand or by a mechanized source
10. Explosives in any form
11. Explosive detonators or any device manufactured as a component or accessory of detonators
12. Warships of any kind regardless of size or tonnage
13. Components meant for use in construction of war machines of any kind
14. Aircraft, aircraft components, accessories, parts or engines
15. Tanks, armored cars, militarized vehicles of any kind including their parts or accessories
16. Armor plating
17. Chemical weapons or components meant for the dispersal of such
18. Military clothing, uniforms, shoes, boots, hats etc
19. Military news manuscripts; or any signaling equipment used for military purposes
20. Chemicals or ingredients meant for use in the printing of military publications
21. Pack animals or riding animals, their equipment and appurtenances if for military purposes
22. Fuel oil, crude oil, lubricating oil, aviation gasoline
23. Gold, silver, cash and coins or any instrument used for settling debt of or to an enemy
24. Food, medicines or rations intended for use by the enemy
25. Any equipment, tools, or materials used to manufacture or otherwise produce or reproduce any the above articles
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did you see drums of fuel or oil on the deck? and are you beyond any doubt reasonably certain the ship would be bound for an enemy held port?
historically, such neutral ships would have kept such banned goods under decks, or in disguised containers somehow, it would then be up to the commander to determine if the vessel was worth stopping, boarding and investigating as to the nature of their cargo, interrogate the crew as to their destination, compare their verbal statements to their navigational plot and manifests etc
another prize regulation amendment to consider:
Quote:
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Amendment – 02 OCT 1939 – By order of Der Führer darkened ships regardless of nationality can be attacked within the British and French territorial waters (See Article II, Article XI)
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so, at least in real life, if you reached a period of time after sunset and the vessel failed to activate its running / navigation lights - technically by order of high command it can be attacked.
unfortunately, Silent Hunter III will not allow ships to turn on and off their lights at will when appropriate, so, according to the prize regulations you could technically follow any neutral ship until dark in french or british waters, note that they didnt turn on their lights, and then sink them at will