Sea Shepherd Rams Japanese Ship

Sea Shepherd Rams Japanese Ship

Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR)

Sea Shepherd vessel Bob Barker rams the port side stern of the Yushin Maru No.3

The Togo-registered ship Bob Barker collided yesterday (1310JST Saturday) with the Japanese Antarctic research vessel Yushin Maru No.3.

The Bob Barker had suddenly approached the Yushin Maru No.3 to launch butyric acid-containing bottle projectiles. When the Yushin Maru No.3 tried to avoid this, the Bob Baker collided against its stern.

On the early morning of February 6 the Bob Barker appeared in the vicinity of the whale research mother ship Nisshin Maru approaching dangerously from the stern up to a few dozen meters. The Bob Barker had been repeatedly firing a high-power green laser device against the Nisshin Maru crew until well past 1200JST.

Thereafter, the Yushin Maru No.3 and other research vessels maneuvered to contain the Bob Barker and thus secure a safe distance between the Nisshin Maru and the antiwhaling ship. However, the Bob Barker suddenly approached from the Yushin Maru No.3 port side launching a number of butyric acid-containing bottles and other projectiles.

To avoid a collision the Yushin Maru No. 3 put hard to starboard but the Bob Barker starboard came into contact with the port stern of the research vessel. The Yushin Maru suffered minor damage to its hand rail and hull. The Bob Barker damage extent is unknown.

After ramming the Yushin Maru No. 3, the Bob Barker activists made use of a large slingshot device to shoot a number of butyric acid-containing bottles against the Shonan Maru No. 2. While most of the projectiles landed in the sea, about 10 butyric-acid bottles hit the Shonan Maru No. 2’s deck. There were no injuries to the crews of the Japanese whale research vessels.

ENDS

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