Animal Planet Statement Regarding Sea Shepherd and Whaling Ship’s Engagement at Sea
NEW YORK, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in the Southern Ocean, an ancillary vessel from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the Ady Gil, and the Japanese security ship, the Shonan Maru No. 2, physically collided, leaving the much smaller Ady Gil sinking and unsalvageable. According to the Sea Shepherds, the Japanese vessel rammed the Ady Gil while the Ady Gil was motionless. However, Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research reports that the Ady Gil collided with the Shonan Maru No. 2.
Sea Shepherd has reported that all on the Ady Gil have been safely transported to their newest ship, the Bob Barker. Of the six crew on the Ady Gil, one cameraman, Simeon Houtman of New Zealand, was part of the production crew hired by Animal Planet to document the activities of the Sea Shepherd in the series WHALE WARS. He sustained minor injuries during the collision. In total, the production crew has 16 members currently embedded on the Bob Barker and the Sea Shepherd’s primary vessel, the Steve Irwin.
Said Animal Planet president and general manager Marjorie Kaplan, of the engagement at sea, “We’re very concerned that all of the players — on both sides of the ‘war’ — should come out of this conflict unharmed. It’s indicative of how critical this conservation story is that these individuals are willing to risk their lives for what they believe.”
In an unprovoked attack captured on film, the Japanese whaling fleets ship Shonan Maru No. 2 deliberately rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd catamaran Ady Gil. six crewmembers Rescued by the Sea Shepherd Ship Bob Barker
According to eyewitness Captain Chuck Swift on the Bob Barker, the attack happened while the vessels were dead in the water. The Shonan Maru No. 2 suddenly started up and deliberately rammed the Ady Gil ripping eight feet of the bow of the vessel completely off. According to Captain Swift, the vessel does not look like it will be saved.
The incident took place at 64 Degrees and 03 Minutes South and 143 Degrees and 09 Minutes East
Until this morning the Japanese were completely unaware of the existence of the Bob Barker. This newest addition to the Sea Shepherd fleet left Mauritius off the coast of Africa on December 18th and was able to advance along the ice edge from the West as the Japanese were busy worrying about the advance of the Steve Irwin from the North.
Japanese Whalers Ram Sea Shepherd Ship Ady Gil Famed Catamaran is sinking in the Southern Ocean Six crewmembers Rescued by the Sea Shepherd Ship Bob Barker In an unprovoked attack captured on film, the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 deliberately rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd catamaran Ady Gil .
Sea Shepherd Goes On the Offensive in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has escalated the battle to save the whales in the Southern Ocean, has out maneuvered the Japanese security vessels, and is now in full pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet. Captain Paul Watson is feeling more like an Admiral this year. He is presently hundreds of miles from the frontline action that is taking place in Commonwealth Bay off the Adelie Coast as two of his three ships are in full pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet
Whalers Pose as New Zealand Government Agents to Track Sea Shepherd The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin left Hobart, Tasmania at 1800 Hours on December 31 st , 2009 to return to the search in the Southern Ocean for the illegal operations of the Japanese whaling fleet.
The Time is Right for Bob Barker to Rescue the Whales Bob Barker Donates $5,000,000 to Sea Shepherd for Ocean Conservation Another whaling ship arrived in the Southern Ocean today, unexpected and right on time: the Bob Barker. The 1,200-ton Norwegian built Antarctic harpoon vessel caught up with the Japanese whaling fleet at 0300 Hours on Wednesday, January 6th, in the area of Commonwealth Bay off the Adelie Coast at 143 Degrees 17 Minutes East and 66 Degrees 43 Minutes South. The Norwegian flag cracked in the chill Antarctic air as the silhouette of the whaler gave every indication that the ship was sent to support the Japanese whalers.
Sea Shepherd Turns the Tables on the Whalers The Pursued are Now Once Again - the Pursuers The Japanese are again in pursuit of the Steve Irwin but this time they are far behind the Sea Shepherd crew and unable to relay our position to the main body of whale poachers with the Japanese whaling fleet. The Japanese whaling fleet security ship does not know where the Steve Irwin is, but thanks to a group of dedicated whale defenders from Tasmania calling themselves the “Taz Patrol,” we know where the Japanese ship is.
Sea Shepherd Evades Pursuit by Japanese Whaling Fleet Security Vessel The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has successfully left the Australian Economic Zone (EEZ) without any sign of the Japanese whaling fleet security ship Shonan Maru No.
Sea Shepherd’s Steve Irwin Crew Return to the Battle The Steve Irwin was able to slip into Hobart, Tasmania and out again within 60 hours. During that time, it took on a full load of fuel, provisions, and supplies and was able to service bridge electronics and communications gear
Ady Gil Experiences Humpback Encounter On one of the last days of 2009, the crew of the Ady Gil received a belated Christmas present from Mother Nature. While searching for the Japanese poaching ships in Antarctic waters, three Humpback whales decided to show themselves to the Ady Gil crew and approached the ship. At first the animals hesitated to come close, but after a while their curiosity overcame their hesitation and they swam right up to the vessel.
