Japanese whalers accused of dangerous confrontation
(02-26 09:01)
Japanese whalers and militant conservationists have again been involved in dangerous clashes in icy waters off Antarctica, with each side accusing the other of ramming vessels.
Veteran anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson said in the incident yesterday the Japanese factory ship the Nisshin Maru rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's much smaller vessel the Bob Barker.
But on its website, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research accused several Sea Shepherd boats of ramming the Nisshin Maru as the vessel attempted to refuel with her supply tanker the Sun Laurel.
“It was five hours of intense confrontation,’’ Watson told AFP from on board the Sea Shepherd vessel the Steve Irwin. “We took up our positions to block their approach to the [fuel tanker] Sun Laurel and they rammed the Bob Barker twice, causing considerable damage, and then they pushed it into the side of the Sun Laurel.’’
Watson said the Japanese threw stun grenades and used water cannon on his boat, and damaged another Sea Shepherd vessel the Sam Simon but there were no injuries to Sea Shepherd crew.
“It was extremely dangerous,’’ he said.
``I can't tell you how intimidating it is to have a 12,000 tonne ship coming at you and trying to slam into the side of you. Their contention that we rammed them is just ludicrous. We would just bounce off them.’’
The Institute of Cetacean Research said the Japanese vessels were “again subject to sabotage by the Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin, Bob Barker and Sam Simon.’’
“During their obstruction to refueling operations the Sea Shepherd vessels rammed into... the Nisshin Maru and the supply tanker,’’ it said.
“During the attack, the Nisshin Maru used her water pump as a preventive measure to make Sea Shepherd vessels refrain from further approaching and repeatedly broadcasted a warning message to stop them.’’
It said no crew on its side was injured, accusing the Sea Shepherd campaigners of “extremely dangerous and foolhardy behavior’’ that threatened the lives of those onboard the vessels.
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