Posted on 02/12/2007 7:22:51 AM PST by dead
The crew of a Japanese whaling ship issued a distress call today and labelled activists "eco-terrorists" following collisions in Antarctica's icy waters today.
Japanese authorities have blamed the dramatic incident on activists with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, but the group has said the whaling vessel, Kaiko Maru, was at fault.
The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand this afternoon said the Kaiko Maru had issued a distress call, saying it had collided with two ships crewed by Sea Shepherd activists.
The centre later said the Kaiko Maru was no longer in distress, did not require any assistance and was able to continue under its own power.
Captain Paul Watson with his ship Farley Mowat.
Photo: Angela Wylie
Sea Shepherd leader, Captain Paul Watson, said there was only one collision - involving the group's protest ship, the Robert Hunter - and the Kaiko Maru.
Watson blamed the incident on the whaling vessel, saying it had "backed up and hit" the Robert Hunter, which had earlier tried to force the Japanese ship into part of the sea heavy with ice.
The action was taken after the whaling ship was seen bearing down on a pod of whales, Watson said.
"At one point the Kaiko Maru turned to starboard and struck the Robert Hunter," the Sea Shepherd group said in a statement.
"The Kaiko Maru has issued a distress signal. We have acknowledged this distress signal but they refuse to say what distress they are in."
Watson said the collision had torn a hole about 30cm in diameter in the hull of the Robert Hunter, but it was not large enough to sink it.
In a statement tonight, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) accused Sea Shepherd protesters of using pirate-like tactics.
"Eco-terrorist group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has rammed and damaged one of the Japanese research fleet," the statement said.
"Afterwards, both the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat came to the either side of the Kaiko Maru, stopping her from continuing. This was done in the same manner employed by pirates.
"Its propeller (the Kaiko Maru's) has been damaged by them."
Sea Shepherd activists have been facing off against the whalers north of the Balleny Islands, west of the Ross Sea, trying to stop Japan's controversial annual whale hunt.
Last week, the rival groups called a temporary truce as the whaling ships joined in the search for two protesters who became lost while trying to foul the propeller of one of the Japanese vessels.
The pair, including Australian Karl Neilsen, were found safe about seven hours later, and hostilities quickly resumed.
International director of Sea Shepherd Jonny Vasic was aboard the Robert Hunter when today's collision occurred.
"It was a loud noise - a big bang. I actually shuddered a bit," Vasic said.
"The ships collided two times, once side by side, and once when they rammed into us.
"I haven't inspected it yet, but they did some damage to our hull."
Vasic said the damage would ``absolutely not'' stop protesters' activities.
"We are here to keep those guys out of the whale sanctuary. We are not damaged beyond repair. We are still seaworthy," Vasic said.
Another environment group in the Antarctic waters, Greenpeace, condemned the clash.
Karli Thomas, the expedition leader on Greenpeace vessel, the Esperanza, said the focus should be on saving whales, not damaging ships.
"We completely condemn any violent action by anyone. Potentially endangering lives in the middle of the Southern Ocean is unacceptable," Thomas said.
The Esperanza, which has been searching for the Japanese whaling fleet, is headed directly towards the co-ordinates given in the distress call.
Earlier today captain Watson said today the Farley Mowat was almost out of fuel and he was considering giving the Japanese whaling ship, the Nisshin Maru, a "steel enema" by ramming it.
Watson said his boat was now seen as a pirate vessel, and he would rather lose it in defence of whales than to bureaucrats.
Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace vessels have run campaigns of interference in recent years aimed at frustrating Japan's whale hunt.
Japan continues to claim its hunt is for scientific purposes but admits whale meat from the catch ends up on restaurant tables.
Australia, New Zealand and other countries have lobbied at the International Whaling Commission to end the hunt.
Australia's Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull tonight said that while Australia remained opposed to whaling, Sea Shepherd activists should refrain from dangerous action.
"We again call on Sea Shepard to conduct their operations in a safe and peaceful manner," he said in a statement.
"The type of action they are now proposing - such as ramming vessels - could result in a tragedy."
AAP
Silly, dangerous hippies.
Cap'n Jack Sparrow Lives!
M82A1. 'nuff said.
Why won't the Japanese just shoot them and end this nonsense?
Hey Japanese, perhaps a torpedo or two should be part of your standard load... :-)
That's an overtly hostile act ... for which the offending eco-pirate ship should be unceremoniously sunk.
They even flew the skull and crossbones flag when they did it. Don't the laws of the seas allow the Japanese ship to defend itself? Crippling a ship in antartic waters isn't something anyone does lightly, what if one or both vessels were opened to the sea in a collision? I guess killing a few people to them is far better than a whale.
I'd recommend some deck guns and a penetrating ram rigged to a reinforced keel right around the bow waterline, as well.
Ya know, if'n I were the Japs, I'd send a SDF destroyer down there with orders to identify and sink (not capture) the Sea Shepard ships.
Not as straightforward as it might seem. I note that there is a international ban on commercial whale hunting, but because this takes place in international waters around Antartica, it is very difficult to enforce.
I'm not saying that these people should be going around ramming Japanese ships, but Japan characterizing its whale hunts as "scientific" when most of the whales that are killed wind up on restaurant menus is wrong also--Japan is openly flaunting international law, and ought be punished.
"Cap'n Jack Sparrow Lives!"
I've never seen a pirate that fat.
Odd that the hippie ship was a completely innocent victim but managed to be close enough to get rammed by a ship that was backing up.
A box full of grenades would fix this problem. Or the Japs could throw jobs at them causing them to flee to avoid them.
Farley Mowat is a whale-hugger. I'm not surprised the group named a ship after him.
It takes capital to operate ships of that size. These eco-zips have no shortage of money. They are very dangerous.
Moonbat Mariners, Arrghhh
Send them to the bottom.
The Rainbow Warrior needs company.
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