January 9, 2010 | By:

Sea Shepherd Vessel Rammed

Sea Shepherd Resumes Pursuit of Illegal Whalers

On January 8, 2010 at 17:20 (GMT) the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Bob Barker reported the last known position of another Sea Shepherd vessel, the Ady Gil, to the Australian Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC). This report was made because the Ady Gil—which was originally going to be towed to a nearby base—is now sinking and could pose a navigation hazard for the next two to three hours.
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Having barely survived a vicious attack by the illegal Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 on January 6, 2010, the Ady Gil began taking on water. Since that time, Bob Barker crew members have been working around the clock in an attempt to save the ship and remove possible environmental hazards in case the vessel had further complications while being towed.

During the final towing attempt, the ropes holding the Ady Gil in place behind the Bob Barker snapped—seemingly the result of water accumulating in the vessel. Upon examination, the Ady Gil was found to be approximately 30% submerged, including the engine room and main fuel tanks. Fortunately, all fuel and lubricants had been removed form the Ady Gil hours earlier.

The Bob Barker’s call to the ARCC fulfilled Sea Shepherd’s legal reporting requirements for this incident, but not its obligation to protect whales from the illegal Japanese fleet that is killing whales illegally in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The Bob Barker will now rejoin the Steve Irwin in pursuit of the whaling fleet to continue defending the whales.

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wes
14 years ago

I do not support whaling however the Ady Gil was at fault. How can you call it a vicious attack by the Japanese boat when the Ady Gil was circling the Shonan Maru and throttled up its engines to move in front of the Shonan Maru No. 2.

ArrowHead
14 years ago

You’re lending way too much credibility to Watson and Sea Shepherd.

The Japanese’s whaling is questionable at worst, and they didn’t ram the Ady Gil – the Ady Gil and Bob Barker were harassing the Shonan Maru, and the Ady Gil got waaay too close to the Shonan Maru and got its nose clipped off when it refused to yield.

Jae
13 years ago

Stop supporting commercial food fascists.
The world’s whale eaters are sustainable and deserve to be left in peace.
Attacks on minority food cultures to raise cash and branding are odious and the last thing that we need as a planet.

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