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Whaling ship clashes with boats of protesters
Source: Agencies |
February 21, 2013, Thursday
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AN anti-whaling activist group accused a Japanese whaling vessel of intentionally ramming two of its ships yesterday in waters near Antarctica. Japan's Fisheries Agency, however, insisted the protesters were responsible for the collisions.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson said he was aboard the ship Steve Irwin when the Japanese boat Nisshin Maru collided with it, the Bob Barker and a tanker used to refuel the Japanese whaling fleet.
Watson said the Japanese ship deliberately rammed the Sea Shepherd vessels to try to move them aside and get to the refueling tanker. He said the Japanese ship also accidentally hit the tanker.
He said the incident, near the Australian Davis Research Base on the Antarctic coast, was particularly dangerous because the tanker was involved.
Japan's Fisheries Agency blamed the Sea Shepherd boats, saying they had taken the offensive and had hit the Nisshin Maru at least four times during refueling despite verbal warnings. No one was injured, but the Nisshin Maru's bow was dented and a handrail was damaged, the agency said in a statement.
"The agency said the Sea Shepherd's action was "a dangerous act that threatened the safety of our research fleet and lives of its crew members."
Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke said in a statement that he was seeking more information about the incident.
"The government condemns so-called 'scientific' whaling in all waters and we urge everyone in the ocean to observe safety at sea," Burke said.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson said he was aboard the ship Steve Irwin when the Japanese boat Nisshin Maru collided with it, the Bob Barker and a tanker used to refuel the Japanese whaling fleet.
Watson said the Japanese ship deliberately rammed the Sea Shepherd vessels to try to move them aside and get to the refueling tanker. He said the Japanese ship also accidentally hit the tanker.
He said the incident, near the Australian Davis Research Base on the Antarctic coast, was particularly dangerous because the tanker was involved.
Japan's Fisheries Agency blamed the Sea Shepherd boats, saying they had taken the offensive and had hit the Nisshin Maru at least four times during refueling despite verbal warnings. No one was injured, but the Nisshin Maru's bow was dented and a handrail was damaged, the agency said in a statement.
"The agency said the Sea Shepherd's action was "a dangerous act that threatened the safety of our research fleet and lives of its crew members."
Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke said in a statement that he was seeking more information about the incident.
"The government condemns so-called 'scientific' whaling in all waters and we urge everyone in the ocean to observe safety at sea," Burke said.
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