NZ trimaran hit by Japanese whaler - report

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NZ trimaran hit by Japanese whaler - report

 

UPDATED

7:49 PM Wednesday Jan 6, 2010

.

The crew of the New Zealand trimaran harassing Japanese

whalers in the Southern Ocean had to be rescued after their boat was

allegedly rammed and sunk by a Japanese ship, anti-whaling group Sea

Shepherd Conservation Society says.

The confrontation is thought to have happened early today in

the area of Commonwealth Bay off the Adelie Coast of Antarctica.

The former Earthrace boat - now known as the Ady Gil - was

captained by Aucklander Pete Bethune and had at least three other New

Zealanders and a Dutchman in its crew.

Mr Bethune said before his departure he would not follow

previous Sea Shepherd tactics and try to ram Japanese whalers.

Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson told The Age newspaper the Ady Gill

had been cut in half by the Japanese whaler acting as a security

vessel for the Japanese fleet.

The $1.5 million high-tech vessel's remains were sinking, but

its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured, Mr Watson told

The Age. He said it was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay when

it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship Shonan

Maru.

Earlier in the day the fleet was contacted for the first time

by the Ady Gil and Sea Shepherd's third vessel, the Bob Barker.

Mr Watson, aboard the society's bigger, but slower ship Steve Irwin,

said he was still 500 nautical miles from the scene.

" This seriously escalates the whole situation, " he said of

the collision.

The Institute of Cetacean Research, which has previously

fronted for the whalers, claimed the Ady Gil's crew were launching

projectiles at a ship in the fleet, the Nisshin Maru, and attempted

to entangle its propellers with rope.

" The research-base vessel Nisshin Maru, currently engaged in

the Japanese whale research programme in the Antarctic ... was

subject to attack today for about two hours by the New

Zealand-registered watercraft Ady Gil, " the institute said.

" In a manner similar to their 23 December attack on the

Shonan Maru No. 2, at about (7amNZDT) the Ady Gil came to collision

distance directly in front of the Nisshin Maru bow repeatedly

deploying and towing a rope from its stern with the intent to

entangle the Japanese vessel's rudder and propeller. "

It said the crew of the New Zealand boat were also shining a

green laser light and launching stinkbombs that smelled of rancid

butter.

The Nisshin Maru started its water cannons " and proceeded to

prevent the Ady Gil coming closer " .

The institute claimed the activists' actions were " nothing

but felonious behaviour " and potentially threatened the safety of

Japanese sailors.

" In addition, their repeated deploying and abandonment of

ropes designed to entangle the propeller of our navigating vessels

ultimately ends up litter spoiling the Antarctic marine environment. "

The Ady Gil was donated to the protest lobby by a Hollywood

businessman.

- NZPA

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

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