Sea Shepherd in plan to ram whalers ("steel enema")

[Barrett808]

Hardline anti-whaling activists are threatening to sacrifice their ship in Antarctic waters by ramming a Japanese whaler.

Captain Paul Watson, head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, said today his vessel, the Farley Mowat, was almost out of fuel and he was considering giving the Japanese whaler, the Nisshin Maru, a "steel enema" by ramming its slipway .

Watson said his boat, currently north of the Balleny Islands, west of the Ross Sea, was now seen as a pirate vessel, and he would rather lose it in defence of whales than to bureaucrats.

"I have spent 30 years of my life trying to protect whales. I am getting sick and tired of politicians doing nothing," he said.

He intends to take drastic action, probably in the next 24 hours, to slam his vessel into the Nisshin Maru's slipway, preventing it from hunting more whales.

"We would probably be stuck into them. They would have to go back to Tokyo with us sticking out of their rear end," he said. "Perhaps it's time to give these cruel whalers a steel enema they will never forget."

(more)

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/sea-shepherd-in-plan-to-ram-whalers/2007/02/12/1171128863154.html

[don954]

1. um, shouldnt they be keeping this hush hush?

They are warning them and that will give them time to leave port...

[seriousstan]

6. It is called premeditated.

[Rage for Order]

27. I wonder if it'd be okay if the situation is reversed?

What if the whaling vessel(s) announced that they planned to ram the Sea Shepherd? After all, turnabout's fair play. As long as people are advocating vigilante justice on the part of the Sea Shepherd, they shouldn't have a problem with the whaling vessels taking the law into their own hands to protect themselves by ramming the SS. For some reason, though, I have a feeling that a double standard would be applied in this particular circumstance.

[Nevernose]

2. That's totally insane.

On the other hand, how do I make a contribution to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society?

Instead of the Farley Mowat, they could call their next boat the Edward Abbey? Or hows about Monkey Wrench?

[LeftyMom]

4. It's strategery

Currently nobody wants to let them use a port for fear of pissing off Japan. If you're giving them something better to do than cause an international incident, nobody gets to complain.

While SSCS has no compunctions about fucking up whaling ships, they tend to do it when they're empty and in port, because it's safer for all parties involved.

[Harper_is_Bush]

8. you didn't explain how it's strategy. n/t

[LeftyMom]

10. The aim is to get admitted to a port in Enzed or Oz. It's strategic in making it politically

expedient to grant them entry via indirect means.

If Paul Watson wanted to ram a much larger ship he'd just do it instead of broadcasting his intention. If you're going to kick somebody in the balls, you don't tell them and put them on guard, you surprise them and do it.

[Harper_is_Bush]

11. Ramming the Japanese ship is strategy to get pulled into a port?

[LeftyMom]

12. No, talking about the possibility is.

If they were going to ram them, they'd just do it.

[Barrett808]

5. Online donations here:

http://www.seashepherd.org/donate.html

[Nevernose]

7. Donated and bought a hat

The hat's on back order, unfortunately, but I figure that by the time it gets here it'll be like an unexpected present.

Lots of cool background at the site, too, such as: In 2002, after months of bureaucratic paper shuffling and payments of extortionist demands by the Cayman Islands Bureau of Shipping, the Ocean Warrior was re-registered in Canada. She was renamed the Farley Mowat after Sea Shepherd's International Chair, Farley Mowat, Canadian author and animal welfare advocate.

Honestly, I thought he died during the 90s. Oops :). There are many things that have influenced my environmental beliefs: the Boy Scouts, my parents taking my camping regularly, days spent alone in the wilderness, and a good public education, but it all started with that Disney movie, Never Cry Wolf.

(Btw, if any of y'all haven't read the book Never Cry Wolf, it's worth your time. Funny as hell, too, and way better than the movie.)

[Ian David]

18. How about they name the next ship, "Kobiashi Maroo"? n/t

[LeftyMom]

3. "Meanwhile, Greenpeace anti-whaling protesters have still to find the whaling vessels."

Because they apparently are the only people in the universe who can't seem to reach anyone at SSCS via email. Yeah. Right.

:eyes:

[Harper_is_Bush]

9. Captainm Watson is a known liar and his behavior is erratic. No doubt he'll end up in jail. n/t

[LeftyMom]

13. .

[LostinVA]

16. Yup, that horse is about dead, LM

Unfortunately, as dead as the poor Harp seals slaughtered needlessly.

[okasha]

32. Let us note what part of the poor horse

is taking the beating. ;)

[xchrom]

14. nah -- he's doing what needs to be done and he's a hero. n/t

[Ghost Dog]

15. Japan whaling ship collides with environmental-group vessel

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070212/kyodo/d8n83qco0.html

(Kyodo) A Japanese whaling ship and a vessel of an environmental group collided in the Antarctic Ocean off New Zealand on Monday, the Japanese Fisheries Agency and the conservation group said, with both sides blaming each other for the incident.

The accident caused damage to both the 860.25-ton whaler Kaiko Maru operated by the Institute of Cetacean Research and the Robert Hunter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the agency and the environmental group separately said.

Sea Shepherd said the Robert Hunter was left with a 30-centimeter gash in its hull after the collision in the late afternoon. Speaking from aboard the ship, Captain Alex Cornelissen claimed the vessel sustained the damage after the Kaiko Maru struck its hull. "We were holding our course and the Kaiko Maru turned and struck our port side. We couldn't really avoid the crash," Cornelissen said.

The Robert Hunter and the Sea Shepherd flagship Farley Mowat had chased the Japanese vessel into a patch of ice after seeing the ship following a pod of whales, he said.

However, the Japanese government denied that the Kaiko Maru, which is engaged in what Japan calls research whaling, had struck the Robert Hunter, claiming it was the other way around. The Japanese vessel made a distress call after the Robert Hunter struck the ship in what amounted to a "pirate attack," a spokesman of the Fisheries Agency said.

/...

ed. See also "Whaler, Protest Ships Collide in Antarctic - AP" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x82832

[Barrett808]

17. Sea Shepherd Saves Whale Pod from Whalers

ABOARD THE FARLEY MOWAT, 1720 Hours, February 12th, 2007 (2020 Hours, February 11th, PST) –

The Sea Shepherd vessels Robert Hunter and Farley Mowat caught the Japanese whaling vessel Kaiko Maru bearing down on a pod of whales. The conservation vessels moved in and chased the whaler into the ice.

At one point during the confrontation, the Kaiko Maru turned to starboard and struck the Robert Hunter.

The Sea Shepherd activists are demanding that the whaler leave the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary and cease and desist from illegally killing whales.

The Kaiko Maru issued a distress signal. Sea Shepherd acknowledged this distress signal, but they Japanese vessel refused to say what distress they were in.

Sea Shepherd is in Antarctic waters to protect endangered whales from the Japanese fleet which has plans to illegally slaughter over 900 whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary this year – including 935 piked (Minke) whales and 10 fin whales.

The objectives of the Sea Shepherd vessels are to enforce international conservation law against illegal Japanese whaling operations in accordance with the principles established by the United Nations World Charter for Nature.

The Farley Mowat has a crew of 20 under the command of Captain Paul Watson. The Robert Hunter has a crew of 37 under the command of Captain Alex Cornelissen of the Netherlands.

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_070211_2.html

[Barrett808]

19. Conservation Minister To Call Anti-Whaling Boat

The Conservation Minister Chris Carter says he will be contacting anti whaling activists involved in a collision with a Japanese whaling boat directly, to urge them to exercise caution.

Yesterday the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's protest ship and a Japanese whaling vessel collided in the Southern Ocean, with both crews accusing the other of ramming their vessels.

Mr Carter says the activists have gone too far, and lives are being put at risk.

He says Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials are also in constant contact with the Japanese government over the situation.

http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=358395&catid=3008

[Zachstar]

20. Are they out of fuel now?

As soon as the vessel is disabled they need to be boarded and arrested for piracy. They are absolutely insane and they seem to have little regard for human life.

Pirates, Terrorists, whatever you want to call it! May they sink and watch their pirate ship slip below the waves!!!

This has done untold damage to realistic environmentalism.

[Nihil]

40. I wish.

Sadly, the factory ship will have plenty of fuel and so you wishes
cannot be carried out.

If, on the other hand, you were referring to the Sea Shepherd ships
then you can stick your "terrorists" bullshit where the sun doesn't
shine.

:P

[Richard Steele]

42. Your CONCERNS are duly noted.

[fla nocount]

44. They're only doing what the BFEE will eventually force all of us

to do. They're taking it out into the streets.

[Barrett808]

21. Sea Shepherd Captain Assures Minister (Won't ram)

The Conservation Minister Chris Carter says the captain of the Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling boat has promised not to ram Japanese whaling vessels they are pursuing.

Mr Carter has telephoned Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and expressed his grave concerns about reported threats made against the Japanese whaling boats.

Yesterday the Sea Shepherd's protest ship and a Japanese whaling vessel collided in the Southern Ocean, with both crews accusing the other of ramming their vessels.

Mr Carter says despite media reports that the Sea Shepherd boat may ram the Japanese boats, Mr Watson has given his assurance this will not happen.

http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=358436&catid=33

[Zachstar]

22. Lets see if it holds! Hopefully they will simply run out of fuel

So that this may end without conflict. Then the pirate crew and craft will be taken into custody then scuttled!

Lets hope we have seen the last of eco-terrorism!

[Bonobo]

23. Huh? Media reports that the might ram the whaling vessel?

"Mr Carter says despite media reports that the Sea Shepherd boat may ram the Japanese boats, Mr Watson has given his assurance this will not happen."

-They weren't media reports, they were straight from Watson's mouth. Pre-meditated enema, remember?

Now that a collision has happened who are we to believe?

[Zachstar]

24. Dunno but I am of little mood to believe Eco-Terrorist Pirates!

The lies from these freeks froth like crazy.

Id like to know the endurance of both ships remaining. We need to know how long before they are disabled and able to be arrested.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fla nocount]

45. Think we ought to sent it to alert oblivion

or keep it around to play with for awhile; slow morning where I'm at.

[Barrett808]

25. Sea Shepherd: Who Rammed Whom?

On Monday, February 12, 2007, the Japanese whaling ship Kaiko Maru was intercepted by the Sea Shepherd ship Robert Hunter as it was chasing a pod of whales. The Robert Hunter intervened by crossing in front of the Kaiko Maru, which allowed the whales to escape.

The Kaiko Maru then came alongside the Robert Hunter and swerved into the starboard side of the Sea Shepherd ship to push it into some ice.

The Robert Hunter’s hull was penetrated and a large hole ripped open into the forward compartment area above the main deck. The shoving of the Robert Hunter against the ice caused damage below the water line on the port side of the engine room compartment.

Both ships then moved into the ice and then began to work their way out of the floe when, suddenly, the Kaiko Maru backed up and rammed into the stern port side of the Robert Hunter. This collision penetrated the hull and opened a one-meter gash in the bulwarks above the main deck.

After striking the Robert Hunter twice, the Kaiko Maru then issued a Maritime Distress signal. Both the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat responded to the distress request but the Kaiko Maru would not respond. New Zealand Search and Rescue informed both Sea Shepherd ships that the Kaiko Maru reported they were in “grave and imminent danger”

Captain Paul Watson assured New Zealand Search that they were not threatening the whaler, and that it was the whaling ship that had inflicted damage.

(more)

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_070212_1.html

[Barrett808]

26. Photos of the collision:

http://www.whalesafebeer.com/photos2.htm

[Bonobo]

29. Hardly credible is it? He SAID he would ram them!

He has rammed ships since 1979.

They are a pirate vessel.

They attacked them with chemical weapons, tried to board, etc.

I hardly think their claims of being victims of the ramming are credible.

And even if they were struck, it is justifiable from a legal as well as common sense point of view.

[Judi Lynn]

36. Thanks for the photos. Very interesting.

Took some ugly gashes.

Hoping to hear, one day, the side of good has won, and that DOESN'T mean the anal ones, the right-wing, idiot plunderers.

[Barrett808]

46. Same tactic the whalers used against Greenpeace last year

They rammed the Arctic Sunrise and claimed it was Greenpeace's fault.

[DerBeppo]

28. If someone told the media that he was going to run my car off the road

I'd sure as hell do whatever it took to keep that from happening.

[Zachstar]

30. Pirate Flag and Everything!!

Have a look at that 2nd pic sure looks like fun playing pirates but it seems they missed a bit.

[Zachstar]

31. Ganging up on a ship flying a pirate flag.

Monster Eco-Terrorists I hope they enjoy this as they will lose both ships and quite possibly years of their life thanks to this.

Enjoy the jail-fun terrorists! The years in prison you spend for this act of piracy will be good justice for your high seas crimes.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. I hope somebody

is able to lock Watson up before he kills somebody.

[Eugene]

35. Whalers give activists the slip (AAP/Reuters)

Whalers give activists the slip

February 13, 2007 - 2:17PM

Japan's whaling fleet has given Sea Shepherd activists the slip in Antarctica's icy waters.

The anti-whaling group admitted today it had lost the whalers, after a dramatic day at sea
yesterday when a whaling vessel and a protest ship collided.

-snip-

But foggy, windy conditions made it unsafe to have a helicopter airborne to search for the
whaling fleet.

New Zealand's Conservation Minister Chris Carter today said Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson
had given him an assurance that his group would not ram any ships.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/whalers-give-activists-the-slip/2007/02/13/1171128953683.html

[Eugene]

37. Reuters: Whaling activists withdraw threat to ram Japan fleet

Whaling activists withdraw threat to ram Japan fleet
13 Feb 2007 09:46:22 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Activists withdrew a threat to ram a Japanese whaling fleet
in the frigid Southern Ocean on Tuesday, while in Tokyo pro-whaling nations met to push
for a return to commercial fishing of the giant creatures.

-snip-

The activists had threatened to ram a vessel into the back of a Japanese factory ship,
the Nisshin Maru, to stop whales being hauled on board for processing.

But Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson withdrew the threat on Tuesday after he said New
Zealand had pledged stronger action to stop the Japanese fleet.

"We made an agreement that we would not ram or disable...the Nisshin Maru, and New
Zealand will do everything it can to stop whaling, specifically to stop them killing 50
humpback whales," Watson told Reuters by satellite phone from his ship.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP225651.htm

[superconnected]

39. Ah, just saw this. Thanks for posting. Very good news.

[superconnected]

38. Violence begets violence. What next the boats start shooting at each other

torpedos etc.

This is likely going to end in human death.

And no, I'm not for killing whales or fish. If you want to do something, quit eating them.

"(Then) they backed up and hit the Robert Hunter, causing a rip in the hull.

He said the hole was about 30cm in diameter, but he did not believe it was large enough to sink the Robert Hunter"