Posted on 01/08/2010 4:01:06 AM PST by TexasCajun
SYDNEY (AFP) A high-tech protest boat sank without trace on Friday after a dangerous collision with a Japanese whaling ship, as Australia protested to Tokyo over its fleet's alleged tactics.
Peter Hammarstedt, first officer of the Sea Shepherd group's "Bob Barker" ship, said the celebrated "Ady Gil" was abandoned overnight after a tow line snapped en route to an Antarctic research base.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I wouldn’t think a “super” boat would sink that fast.
Well I’ll play devils advocate here, if the whalersavers want firepower then why not form forces with Somali pirates?
All it takes is a little money, something Hollywood seems to have a lot to waste on.
More good news!
When did Rosie go completely gray?
It started out as the “Earthrace” an econut biodiesel yadda yadda racer. Once they got doen with it they donated to the morons at Sea Shephard. From the first Earthrace press release:
“BIODIESEL TO FUEL POWERBOAT WORLD RECORD CHALLENGE
March 1st , 2004
A group of talented designers, boatbuilders, and adventurers are planning an attempt on the world circumnavigation powerboat record. To be called the Earthrace. What makes this challenge remarkable is the boat will be fuelled by biodiesel, a fuel produced from renewable crops such as canola.
Circumnavigating the globe represents the pinnacle of powerboat challenges, and at 24,000 nautical miles, is also the world’s longest race. The current record was set by British boat “Cable & Wireless” in 1998, when the diesel-powered craft covered the 24,382 nautical miles in just under 75 days. The Earthrace crew is aiming to smash this record by completing the voyage in less than 65 days. It will mark the first time in history that an official UIM Powerboat record will be held by a vessel using renewable fuel.
The Earthrace team aims to make the Earthrace the highest-profile powerboat project in the world. It will represent leading edge technology in all facets, including engines, composites, hull design and motors.
Prior to racing, the Earthrace team will conduct a world port tour, visiting over 50 locations around the globe.
“The world’s current reliance on standard fossil fuels is unsustainable” says Earthrace CEO Pete Bethune. “It will take leadership, and vision from forward-looking companies and individuals to develop and promote cleaner, more sustainable alternatives.”
Anyone ever seen him with a chick? :)
I wonder which boat was more maneuverable - the smaller faster boat?
If you play chicken with a whaler, you're the fool to expect them to flinch.
Soros probably.
blub blub!
Bob Barker paid for it.
I guess the “Price Was Right”....................
This “Superboat” was a turkey, and it was sold to the insurance company. And if the insurance company pays a dime for this, their underwriters are imbeciles.
From the first launch of the Ady Gil, it was obvious that its engine was poorly designed and built, it had insufficient ventilation, structural defects, and a tendency to run into other sea craft. When it tried to circumnavigate the globe, it had one misfortune after another, even ramming a Guatemalan fishing boat killing three fishermen.
It was originally paid for with $2.5M in contributions by “eco-suckers”, yet if it sank, and the insurance company paid for it, the money would go to the ships owner.
The final straw can be seen in the video. The whaling fleet security ship is quite large and slow. The Ady Gil is faster and more maneuverable. At sea this means that the faster and more maneuverable ship *always* yields, for the logical reason that the slower and less maneuverable ship can’t.
Ergo, they sold the Ady Gil to the insurance company. It is New Zealand flagged, so this likely means a Lloyd’s Register of Shipping inspection (different from Lloyd’s of London Insurance), prior to whatever insurance.
How they passed that inspection is anyone’s guess. But the insurance company will go over it with a fine tooth comb.
It is amusing to me to see all these attacks which are just like the attacks by liberals on conservatives. Granted, these people are easy to mock, but their cause is just. The evidence here clearly shows that the huge Japanese ship crashed into the STOPPED small craft risking death to its crew and causing broken ribs injury to one of them. Why are you people cheering for the thugs? You are clearly on the wrong side here. I’m sure I am not alone in my opinion, but others may be reluctant to incur the abuse I will get for defending these people. Article was a fair article.
If they prevent the slaughter of one whale, who is the loser? Let the professional fisherman fish for something else. Let the Japanese eat cake.
The final straw can be seen in the video. The whaling fleet security ship is quite large and slow. The Ady Gil is faster and more maneuverable. At sea this means that the faster and more maneuverable ship *always* yields, for the logical reason that the slower and less maneuverable ship cant.
Because that boat was manned by idiots. It would be the same as you jumping out in front of a semi and then lamenting that fact that you are now road kill. Rules of the sea apply and they apply for good reason.
Whales aren't special.
They're mammals. Like cows and pigs.
They are useful as food and for industrial purposes.
You drank too much eco-koolaide.
Go work on paul watson's "faucet", faucetman.
AV
You put yourself in harms way, you take your chances.
“Steel meets composite plastic matrix. Steel wins.”
You got it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.