Sea Shepherds Ady Gil collides with Japanese whaler

[Alex_Mustard 0]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle6977316.ece

 

Alex

[wagsy 0]

Yep.... looks like they were stopped in the water and they turned and went for them....not good.....

Only going to make it worse for the Japanese doing stuff like that.

[Dixter 0]

I guess you shouldn't mess with the whale hunters as this video shows.... :-(

 

http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633...#video=17482247

[james 0]

Wow, big news. I just saw this on CNN where the headline was "Whale Wars ship collides with Japanese whaler."

 

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/201...p.collision.cnn

 

I watched the video and from the angle/camera that I saw the Sea Shepard vessel pulled right in front of the Japanese vessel which then struck the Sea Shepard vessel amidships. International rules of the road give right of way to the Sea Shepard vessel in this situation FWIW, but it looked like once the Sea Shepard vessel turned in front the Japanese vessel there was no way they could avoid hitting them... :-(

 

Cheers

James

[MikeVeitch 0]

interesting reading the news reports, sounds like the SS captain made a mistake getting too close to the front of a ship underway and then neither had time to avoid the collision. Ships can't stop on a dime...

[james 0]

Watch the Japanese video and the other videos before making any conclusions. There is a lot to be learned from them all :-(

 

In the video from the Japanese ship watch the prop-wash from the Sea Shepard vessel.

 

Cheers

James

[MikeVeitch 0]

video? on my connection?!?! don't be silly..

 

As i said.. "from reading the news reports..."

 

And yes, news reports can certainly be biased

[Drew 0]

$1.5 million for a trimaran. Interesting use of funds. It's like buying a Ferrari to go to a monster truck rally.

[Timmoranuk 10]

Having studied the video and witnessed what may be inept seamanship by the Sea Shephard captain and seen their 'toy' which cost, apparently 1.5 million bucks, I am of a mind to say thanks but no thanks next time a Sea Shephard tin rattler asks me for a donation...

[MIKE POWELL 1]

"Time to get a bigger boat!" Maybe a SUB would better suit his needs...drive the whales out of harms way...is it possible to heard whales?

[Drew 0]

I think Peter Bethune, the former owner of the boat, is the skipper. I'm sure he's pretty glad he sold his stake in the boat before undertaking this adventure. It could be that the engine just cut out while they were maneuvering for position and the Japanese thought it was another stunt then too late! What is more interesting is that neither video (if you listen to the audio feed) showed the crews overly concerned about the incident.

Then again Sea Shepards has a lot of cash rolling in with Bob Barker throwing in $5mil and Discovery renewing for a 3rd and 4th season. What is really interesting is the the new Bob Barker, which was a former Norwegian whaling vessel. If it was a direct transaction, that would be ironic indeed. Hell it's just a circus there now. Just hope no one gets seriously hurt.

[DeanB 19]

Circus or not, in my eyes any many others, their doing a great job and are bringing lots of attention to this barbaric, outdated industry which is shrouded in lies of 'research' ... Even if they hire the Sultan of bleeding Brunei's yacht to ram whalers I will keep supporting and as long as they keep up the struggle all's good ...

 

Better than sitting back and moaning in our armchairs ...

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[loftus 42]

Dean,

I'm with you totally with respect to bringing attention to the issue, but I have one concern, which is worrying, particularly as my 17 year old is dead set on volunteering with Sea Shepherd in the next few years. I get a sense sometimes that maybe not enough care is taken to ensure the welfare and safety of the crew and volunteers on Sea Shepherd. I've heard from a few sources that there appears to be a lack of concern for crew safety from the folks in command. I understand that those crew are there voluntarily, but lets face it, they're often young, idealistic and inexperienced. Regardless of the battle objectives, crew safety concerns and taking care of the 'troops' should be paramount

Turning a small boat in the way of a large one underway is just plain reckless and dumb, not only will the larger boat be unable to stop even if they want to, the smaller craft is going to come off second best every time.

Edited January 6, 2010 by loftus

[WanderingBob 2]

... I get a sense sometimes that maybe not enough care is taken to ensure the welfare and safety of the crew and volunteers on Sea Shepherd. I've heard from a few sources that there appears to be a lack of concern for crew safety from the folks in command. ...

 

I have thought and said this for years ... "You must be willing to give your life for the whales" is poor attempt at the quote that Paul says. He does put his crew in harms way. I think he carries it too far. Would he do the things he asks his crew to do? When, not if, someone gets seriously hurt does that bring positive or negative ramifications to the cause?

 

I donate, I read the books, I watch the videos, I buy the T-shirts and caps ... I would volunteer to do a season protecting the whales and do what ever to help stop the insanity, but am I gonna commit suicide ... that pushes it a bit.

 

Am I a hypocrite?

[Drew 0]

I think we all have to read past the rhetoric. That's all for TV and for the recruits to make them feel like they are with a worthwhile cause. It's akin to cultism, this one just happens to be vegan.

If you look at the stats of the whaling fleet since 96, you can see that whaling has increased in Japan and the catches are variable. Basically none of the antics of Sea Shepard with the Butyric acid and slime throwing makes much of a difference in total killed.

There are a few things at play here. Watson requires money to keep his organization afloat. This is the biggest arena he can have since it's in international waters, he's got sympathetic ears in some governments (including Australia, which is also thinking of protecting their whale watching industry). To get Ady Gil, Bob Barker and other entertainment types to throw money into the institution, there has to be a certain air of defiance. I'll let you all deduce why that is but it's pretty obvious to me.

On really stopping whales without the rhetoric, Greenpeace (as imperfect as they are as well) has chosen to follow a more cerebral approach, partially because SS is doing fine keeping the issue alive in the media, and also because they know the most effective means of ending whaling isn't to appeal to the rest of the world and inciting anti-Japanese rhetoric but to get the Japanese on board.

In this paper by Allona Sund, while not perfect, it does highlight the issues in reality vs the entertainment the SS calls activism:

http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa...a9849e506da8e26

[Guest echeng]

I put the two videos together so you can see it in real time from both points of view:

 

[dirtydave 0]

I think it is admirable that these volunteers are ready to put it all on the line to protest the innocent. It makes me ashamed I don't do more. These people are todays heroes, not those who fight in support of dictators in Middle Eastern "democracies".

 

If more people had the guts and determination to stop the slaughter of marine animals by dishonest profiteers then maybe the whales dolphins, seals etc. would be around for our grandchildren to enjoy. Not to mention Tuna, sharks, cod, well, lets face it some of them are beyond the tipping point and are probably headed for extinction. For what? Profit. Nothing more. Plain old greed. Talk about pirates!

 

The dishonesty of the Japanese whaling industtry makes me puke. Scientific research? Crap! It is even worse than that of the Canadian sealers and killing seals isn't even illegal. There is no moral or legal justification for harvesting whales, full stop.The Japanese people should pressure their government to stop this deplorable action.

 

Unlike Greenpeace the Sea Shepards are actually doing something useful with the donations given by concerned people. Paul Watson may be a little rough around the edges but I believe he would trade his life for the preservation of the whales. Guts, determination, and damn little glory. Fight on.

[loftus 42]

I look at that and see both skippers at fault; it appears the whaler was clearly trying to intimidate and could have avoided the Ady Gil. On the other hand as a faster more maneuverable boat that clearly would have no chance in the case of a collision, the skipper of the Ady Gill should not have allowed himself to maneuver into a position where he placed his boat and crew in such a vulnerable position. Dave, I still think the objectives of the Sea Shepherd organization are not contrary with placing a high priority on preventing injury to your crew.

Looking at the video again and again, from the Sea Shepherd perspective, one could even think or argue that the whaler was veering to port, and if he had not, would have sheared the Ady Gill in half further aft with far more severe consequences. Could he argue in a court of law that he was actually trying to avoid the collision? I'm not taking that side, but definitely an arguable point.

Still think the skipper of a small boat should have more sense unless this was a planned publicity stunt, which is not impossible either I guess!

In the end, I guess I have to concede that this incident will probably help, more than hurt the cause, unless people start getting tired of it.

Edited January 7, 2010 by loftus

[Drew 0]

Dave, you are entitled to your opinion.

I'd rather support Greenpeace's efforts in getting the Japanese people in on the fight, instead of inciting nationalism. That did nothing on Norway and Iceland, and it definitely will not work on the Japanese as results have shown so far.

With less than 500 employees in the ENTIRE whaling industry in Japan and an annual deficit, this is not about economics or even social significance any more. Anyone who bothers to study the issue and understand the facts will know this. I suggest people you read that link I put up before you judge the efforts of people who are putting effort in really stopping whaling.

Jeff, your daughter may benefit from this read as it does highlight the issue more clearly than any other exposé so far. It's not the best paper written, especially with the cultural conclusions but the important facts are there.

[scorpio_fish 5]

These people are todays heroes, not those who fight in support of dictators in Middle Eastern "democracies".

 

If more people had the guts and determination to stop the slaughter of marine animals by dishonest profiteers then maybe the whales dolphins, seals etc. would be around for our grandchildren to enjoy. Not to mention Tuna, sharks, cod, well, lets face it some of them are beyond the tipping point and are probably headed for extinction. For what? Profit. Nothing more. Plain old greed. Talk about pirates!

 

The dishonesty of the Japanese whaling industtry makes me puke. Scientific research? Crap! It is even worse than that of the Canadian sealers and killing seals isn't even illegal. There is no moral or legal justification for harvesting whales, full stop.The Japanese people should pressure their government to stop this deplorable action.

 

Unlike Greenpeace the Sea Shepards are actually doing something useful with the donations given by concerned people. Paul Watson may be a little rough around the edges but I believe he would trade his life for the preservation of the whales. Guts, determination, and damn little glory. Fight on.

 

Egads, we've stretched the discussion to Middle Eastern dictators, clubbing seals, fishing Tuna, sharks and cod. All those whale boats emit CO2, also.

 

Japanese don't eat whale. There is no market for whale meat. The industry exists solely because of government subsidies. It's their equivalent of our government cheese. The most effective way to save the whales, if indeed they need saving, is to lobby the Japanese government to gradually end subsidies. The heavy handed approach just solidifies opposition. The government can't be seen caving in to a nut job in a boat, else it will spawn new nut jobs opposing other fishing efforts, ones that really might matter. Japan has a new government that must deal with serious economic issues. This new government sees a reduction in the government spending as a percentage of GNP. Now would be a good time for them to this subsidy.

 

BTW, Paul Watson now has no incentive to actually achieve his goal. If Japan capitulated, he would be very depressed. No cause, no TV contract. He might have to become a vegan.

[Giles 1]

This incident is not about who was at fault in a boating sense. You don't need a video or analysis to know which boat was capable of preventing this incident.

 

I am enthralled to follow this on the news and watch how this pans out. Hopefully it aids the cause in some way. Not living in a proper country anymore it is hard for me to know how 'aware' people are of the situation. Will this create more awareness that was needed?

 

I would love to know how it is coming across to people who did not know anything about whaling until this.

[Drew 0]

BTW, Paul Watson now has no incentive to actually achieve his goal. If Japan capitulated, he would be very depressed. No cause, no TV contract. He might have to become a vegan.

 

Oh be fair George, he is vegan (which proves that going vegan only doesn't guarantee you will lose weight without the exercise ) and he has many other causes like the seals, sharks etc. He may lose Whale Wars as a series if the world stopped whaling, but I'm sure he's enterprising enough to start another war somewhere else.

And also the Ady Gil was Earthrace, which used biodiesel and thus "95%" carbon neutral, the last bits are bought with credits which aren't the same thing It was the only boat closest to carbon neutral in the area. And now it'll sink if the storms hit.

A friend of mine thinks the Ady Gil was trashed on purpose so they could raise more money. But then again he also believed WMD claims in 2003.

[MikeVeitch 0]

Finally saw the video.. damn, that's a small boat for southern ocean seas....

[DeanB 19]

It creates awareness... many of my friends (worldwide) are now supporters and I bet many many more friends of supporters are and will be...

 

This is NOT a 'race' issue as some people seem to think/imply its a whaling issue and if grown adults want to do whatever it takes then thats totally up to them. Generals sit back and watch while soldiers fight and thats the way its been in most countries for many years, apart from conscription its mainly a personal choice to join any fight...

 

Go Sea Shepherd !!!

 

Dive safe

 

Dean( ramming speed )B

[Drew 0]

Finally saw the video.. damn, that's a small boat for southern ocean seas....

 

Actually it's the best boat in the biz for stormy weather... it can actually go underwater past the big waves! I was on one of those trimarans in 4m swells and it's AWESOME to be submerged for like 5 secs while your mind is thinking are should be seeing birds and not fish! Only problem is the ice bit but I'm sure they reinforced the hull for icebergs but not harpoon ships!