Anti-whaling boat cut in half
January 7, 2010
Anti-whaling activists claim that a Japanese security vessel deliberately rammed their trimaran cutting it in half. Australian director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Jeff Hansen claims that the Japanese vessel, Shonan Maru 2 had a clear line of sight and deliberately steered a collision course for the Sea Shepherds power boat, the Ady Gil. Hansen says that a section of the Ady Gil’s fuselage has been sheared off. There are also reports that missiles were being directed at the Ady Gil from on board the Shonan Maru.
The Japanese whalers have hit back by saying that the Sea Shepherd protesters were attempting to snag their rudder and propeller with a length of rope. They also claim that the five New Zealand and one Dutch crew on the Ady Gil were throwing stink bombs at the Shonan Maru as well as shining lasers at members of the crew.
A statement issued by Japan’s Institute of Catacean Research has condemned the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for becoming more violent and extremist in their actions. The Fisheries Agency in Japan has said that it would be making inquiries into the incident. Spokesperson for the Fisheries Agency, Toshinori Uoya said that at present the only information to hand was that there had been some sort of collision.
Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society confirmed that all crew on board the Ady Gil were unharmed but pointed out that the incident meant that the situation in the Antarctic had seriously escalated.
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