Sea Shepherds: Bob Barker Rammed by Japanese Whaler

[Guest guest]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 6th, 2010

 

 

To Interview Captain Paul Watson on board the Steve Irwin

SAT Phone: (00) 8816 4145 4434

(From the U.S. dial 011, from Australia 0011)

 

To Interview Captain Chuck Swift on board the Bob Barker

SAT Phone: (00) 8816 5141 3455

 

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society -International Headquarters - U.S.

Contact: Amy Baird, Media Director

Office: 360-370-5650

Email: <>media

 

For related images and video:

<http://media.seashepherd.org>http://media.seashepherd.org

 

Bob Barker Rammed by Illegal Whaler

 

At 1209 PM Fremantle, Australia time, the Yushin

Maru 3 intentionally rammed the Sea Shepherd ship

Bob Barker, penetrating it's hull and endangering

the lives of it©–s crew. The collision occurred

at 65 degrees 21 South, 67 degrees 58 East, about

180 miles off Cape Darnley in the Australian

Antarctic Territory.

 

The Bob Barker had been actively blocking the

slipway of the Nisshin Maru, the Japanese whaling

fleet's factory ship when the collision occurred.

Four harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3

and Shonan Maru 2, were circling and making near

passes to the stern and bow of the Sea Shepherd

vessel. The Bob Barker did not move from its

position. At which point, the Yushin Maru 3

intentionally rammed the Bob Barker, creating a

3-foot long 4-inch deep gash in the mid starboard

side of the Sea Shepherd vessel above the

waterline.

 

No crew was injured during the collision. The Bob

Barker continues to block the slipway of the

Nisshin Maru, preventing the transfer of

slaughtered whales and effectively shutting down

illegal whaling operations.

 

The incident demonstrates a continued escalation

of violence by the illegal whalers in the

Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

 

Said Captain Paul Watson from the bridge of the

Steve Irwin, currently en route to join the

action, " Because the whalers got away basically

scot-free with the outrageous sinking of the Ady

Gil, they now apparently think they can do

whatever they want and they appear to have no

qualms about endangering Sea Shepherd crew. What

we really need is for the governments of

Australia and New Zealand to step up and start

enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who

know what the whalers will do next. Australian

and New Zealand lives are at risk every day in

these waters. "

 

The crew of the Bob Barker noticed that the

Yushin Maru 3 stopped moving in the water shortly

after the impact, and appeared to be falling

behind as the Bob Barker maintained its position

on the stern of the Nisshin Maru. It's possible

the Yushin Maru 3 damaged itself in the collision.

 

The Japanese whalers are far more aggressive this year than in past campaigns.

 

END

 

About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

 

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation

Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit

conservation organization whose mission is to end

the destruction of habitat and slaughter of

wildlife in the world's oceans in order to

conserve and protects ecosystems and species. Sea

Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to

investigate, document, and take action when

necessary to expose and confront illegal

activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the

biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean

ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their

survival for future generations. Founder and

President Captain Paul Watson, is a renowned,

respected leader in environmental issues. Visit

www.seashepherd.org for more information.

 

 

_____________

Media mailing list

Media

http://lists.lists2.seashepherd.org/mailman/listinfo/media

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[Your donations help to support ANIMAL PEOPLE,

the leading independent nonprofit newspaper

providing original investigative coverage of

animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992.

Our global readership includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal

protection organizations. We have no alignment

or affiliation with any other entity. Free

online; $24/year by post; for free sample,

please send postal address.]