Space-age powerboat 'sliced in two' by Japanese whalers
The Sea Shepherd's ship Ady Gil, a wave-piercing boat formerly known as Earthrace, after it was rammed by Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 (background) in Antarctic waters.
A space-age powerboat sent to harass Japanese whalers was rammed and sliced in two in its very first clash yesterday, activists said, dramatically escalating hostilities in icy Antarctic seas.
The futuristic Ady Gil trimaran, which holds the round-the-world speed record for a powered vessel and was enlisted by activists from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for this whaling season, received "catastrophic damage" and was sinking, they said.
All six crew, who earlier hurled stink bombs at the whalers to disrupt their annual hunt, were rescued unharmed by Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker ship.
Activists described the collision as unprovoked but Japan lashed out at the the group, accusing them of "extremely dangerous" behaviour.
"The Shonan Maru No.2 suddenly started up and deliberately rammed the Ady Gil, ripping eight feet (2.4 metres) of the bow of the vessel completely off," a Sea Shepherd statement said.
"The Ady Gil is believed to be sinking and chances of salvage are very grim," it added.
But the Japanese Fisheries Agency said the Ady Gil came abnormally close to the Shonan Maru No.2 and suddenly slowed down while crossing in front of it. "These acts of sabotage that threaten our country's whaling ships and crew were extremely dangerous," it said in a statement. "It is totally unforgivable."
Videos released by both the Japanese and the activists show the sleek, black powerboat and the Shonan Maru No.2 colliding as the whaling ship targets it with water cannons. There was no major damage to the Japanese ship and no Japanese crew members were injured in the collision, the fisheries agency said.
The whalers accused the Ady Gil's five New Zealand and one Dutch crew of trying to tangle the Nisshin Maru's rudder and propeller with rope, and aiming a "green laser device" at its sailors, as well as launching stink bombs.
"The Sea Shepherd extremism is becoming more violent... Their actions are nothing but felonious behaviour," Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research said in a statement. Sea Shepherd activists have harassed the Japanese fleet over the past six hunting seasons and claim to have saved the lives of hundreds of whales.
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Johnny Xerri
Jan 7th 2010, 16:12
As usual extremists meddling in nothing of their business, and then crying foul.
If the Japanese want to hunt whales in the country or not hunt them it’s their own business. These extremists cannot take the law into their own hands and hinder the fisherman.
I am all out for sustainable hunting and fishing. I would be glad to say the least as an amateur fisherman and hunter, if endangered species are protected. However, protection has to be based on scientific evidence, not on tree-hugging principles.
Furthermore, these extremists should resort to presenting scientific measures and lobbying, not in provocation. The police and coast guards are well equipped all over the world to handle situations of abuse.
Most likely these extremists enjoy such 'misfortunes' as they obtain free publicity and pity, which returns more funds.
These extremists have lost the plot, and seem more interested in attracting more funds rather than effectively protecting the environment.
Joe Camilleri
Jan 7th 2010, 14:59
@ wally vella-zarb
no problem sir, just tell me where you live and I will come and hurl stink bombs at your door. We'll see what you'll do. Then we'll see how "civilised " you will be.
P. Xuereb
Jan 7th 2010, 14:39
For those who might have their doubts, video footage from the vessel that rammed the Ady Gil shows that the latter was stationary in the water, and that there was no change in its engine activity. Hence there is no doubt that the ship deliberately changed course to ram the protest boat.
wally vella-zarb
Jan 7th 2010, 13:11
@ Joe Camilleri
"Something has to be done about these" Japanese. They continue to claim that they are doing research into cetaceans when all the world knows that it is only a puerile excuse to cover up their harvesting of whales for their meat. No notable scientific publications have ever come out of this 'research'.
In this incident, the Shonan Maru No2 deliberately turned to starboard so as to ram the Ady Gil, which did not have enough time to speed ahead. out of the way, in time. It was a pure act of aggression by a country that is confident that other, more civilised, countries cannot afford to impose sanctions against this (mal)practice. The footage below, taken from another Sea Shepherd vessel shows exactly what happened:
http://videos.publico.pt/Default.aspx?Id=cee8f617-c265-4e40-bc32-48eaaa2b8c10
Now YOU decide who are the real extremists!
Joe Camilleri
Jan 7th 2010, 12:41
well now it is not Space-age any more. Something has to be done about these extremists. Hurling stink bombs at other people.
Neil Sant
Jan 7th 2010, 11:08
Thank you Sea Shepherd! Your actions to save words speak much louder than words.
Please choose the reason of your report below: