Posted on 02/09/2011 11:51:05 AM PST by Dengar01
The Sea Shepherd scout vessel Gojira found the illegal Japanese whaling ship Sea Shepherd calls the Cetacean Death Star at 2115 NZST on February 9th. The Nisshin Maru was caught in the process of unlawfully flensing a whale on their aft deck at the position of 74 degrees 16 minutes south and 149 degrees 2 minutes west.
The Gojira immediately gave chase as the Nisshin Maru attempted to escape by entering a field of ice. The Gojira attempted to block the huge factory ship to buy time for the Bob Barker to arrive from some 28 miles away. Captain Locky MacLean engaged the Nisshin Maru in a skirmish, and notified the Japanese whalers that they were not to continue their illegal whaling.
The Nisshin Maru seemed to be engaged in flensing operations at the time it was discovered. Work lights illuminated the deck as water was being flushed over the sides and brown-red stains were visible along the aft deck of the vessel around the scuppers/ drain holes, while black smoke bellowed from the factory smoke stack.
Crewmembers observe the Nisshin Maru from the bow of the Bob Barker. Photo: Gary StokesCrewmembers observe the Nisshin Maru from the bow of the Bob Barker. Photo: Gary StokesThe Gojira was stopped in an area of growlers and floe ice as the Nisshin Maru proceeded to bear down on her. Despite several VHF calls to alter course, the Nisshin Maru closed in on the Gojira. When the Nisshin Maru was 40 meters away, Captain MacLean fired a flare to signal the Nisshin Maru to alter course. The Japanese factory ship altered course to starboard, as the Gojira slid 20 meters down her port side.
At 0220 on February 10th, the Nisshin Maru and one of the harpoon boats entered thick pack ice after several hours of zigzagging through loose floe ice. The Gojira kept up skirting the ice edge, meeting the Nisshin Maru on the far side of each floe using her speed advantage.
The Nisshin Maru proceeded to the south towards an area of pack ice. It appeared as if the Gojira was about to lose the factory ship in the thick ice when the Bob Barker arrived just in time to take over the pursuit.
At 0400 hours, the Bob Barker placed itself immediately aft to the stern slipway of the Nisshin Maru to block any further attempts to offload dead whales. The Bob Barker is now easily pursuing the Nisshin Maru through thick pack ice with the Gojira continuing to skirt around the ice looking for harpoon vessels.
The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin departed from Wellington, New Zealand at 1800 hours on February 9th and is expected to meet up with the Sea Shepherd fleet and the Japanese whaling fleet in about five days.
The Bob Barker needs to hold position on the stern of the Nisshin Maru until the Steve Irwin can assist it. By blocking the stern slipway, the factory ship is unable to load dead whales from the harpoon vessels, allowing Sea Shepherd to effectively shut down their illegal whaling operations.
“Why are whales “so special”. No one has EVER given me a decent answer to that.”
Cause they’re brighter than you? Tell you what. The whales are running where I live. We’ll go whale watching, then, just for you, we’ll go up in the hills and watch some cows grazing.
“Some animals are more equal than others.”
You do realize we humans are in fact animals?
“Those useful idiot hippies have probably aborted more babies than any number of whales they have “saved”.”
Or they might be zealously pro-life. That would be more consistent, wouldn’t it?
Whatever you do, please do NOT hang up the phone. I wish you happiness and health. Great entertainment.
You do know the Japanese are illegally killing those whales in a protected area?
I have no sympathy for the Japanese here at all and they are taking advantage of the fact that no government wants to patrol these waters.
Think of it like some independents were off the shore of California stopping illegals from entering the country by sea. (I bet they would HATE that comparison).
The Japanese are illegally whaling in a protected area, so I would NOT in this case want to see the Sea Shepherd people on the losing end of this one.
What they are doing is like if some citizens went out into California waters to prevent boats from dropping illegals onto shore.
You mean the Japanese?
“I’m just waiting for the report of dead hippies at sea.”
Guess you’ll have to wait a little longer. They won. Are you man enough to admit you were wrong, or is there not enough sunlight in that basement apartment for you to look yourself in the mirror?
The whales have had some very decreasing numbers so some areas for periods of time have been made off limits to allow their species to come of off potential endangered species lists,
Japanese don’t give a F’ and just illegally go in to fish in the protected areas for easier fishing.
These activists are blocking the whales from being processed on the factory ship so the Japanese go broke and find it unprofitable to whale in illegal waters.
That is about it and why.
“Call to the captain ashore, sending us home.”
Breaking news! They won!
My wife heard that in the news, that this time they really made the Japanese suspend almost all of their whaling in that protected area.
Good for them.
They did all the fund raising.
They came up with non violent ways to combat the law breakers.
They put their life on the lines in places where no ambulance could come if disaster struck.
They have guts.
I predict the Japanese will have or already have another factory ship processing whales while this group is busy with this one.
” I think (admiral Watson) is dangerous. I think he wants to see one of his “crew” killed so he has a martyr.”
Or either that or send’em all home safe and sound as heroes! Oh wait, that is what happened! Are you man enough to admit you were wrong?
“.... and they’ve been doing it for at least a thousand years. They’ve got a freaking festival for it.”
Cool. Must respect all cultures equally. Politically correct donchaknow.
Say, I’ve got 2 tickets to Borneo where we will be meeting up with a very secluded backwoods tribe who still practice cannabilism who are about to have their annual “Lets lure 2 or more outsiders to the tribe and boil them for dinner” festival. They’ve got a freaking festival for it wanna come? It’ll be hot!
Oh yeah, they been doin it for centuries!
“I called her out on her BS and got a two word FU private response back. This little troll needs to be zotted.”
Would a public reply be better for you? Hey, Watson just won! Maybe that’ll make your blood boil enough to have an effect on that ed disorder you are struggling with!
“I’m just wondering how a noble eco-warrior such as you ends up on a conservative, seal-whackin’ site like this.”
Bub! How’d you get from conservative to seal whacking? Somebody whack you upside the head a little too often?
Here’ the skinny: Admiral Watson one, illegal whale poachers zero.
"zealously pro-life"? Be serious. Zealously pro-life people kill their babies? That is a level of logical gymnastics which challenges the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.
You have some evidence they are pro-choice?
Now that is funy! Ahh the days. No more 20k leagues ride at Disney anymore. I loved that ride. It screamed 1960’s technology. Those fake fish were the best.
Nope, no problems there unless you’re projecting your own shortcomings. I called her out on her BS because she was posting a blatant lie, and obviously checking out your previous posts you love to be an ass towards anyone you don’t agree with. If you think that what Watson is doing is right then its my opinion that you’re an idiot, when someone does get killed on that show it will be because of jackasses like you cheering them on from behind a keyboard.
FU
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