The eco-terrorists have dropped mines in front of these whalers before. This means that the moment the Ady Gil started dicking about in front of their bow, anything the Japs did was defensible.
For instance: if the Japanese had fired a harpoon into the Ady Gil and then set it alight with flares, it would still have been justifiable self-defense. Not to mention hilarious television.
Put it on PPV. I'd watch ...