Sea Shepherd Ady Gil Mortally Hit By Japanese Whaling Ship

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by Michael dEstries January 6, 2010
Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: , .

ady gil, sea shepherd, anti-whaling, whale wars

The Ady Gil is no more — and the Sea Shepherd are back down to two boats.

Paul Watson has confirmed that the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru #2 cut the high-tech $2 million Ady Gil in two, paralyzing her. He said the stealth boat was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay when it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship. “This seriously escalates the whole situation,” Watson told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“It cut eight feet off the front of the vessel. There is a big gaping hole, so it can’t go anywhere or it would fill up with water,” he said.

The crew of six have all been accounted for, Watson confirmed. Five are on the new ship MV Bob Barker, with one still on the Ady Gil. We imagine that guy to be Captain Pete Bethune, who designed and built the boat.

Obviously, there are a whole bunch of questions as how a boat as fast as the Ady Gil could be surprised — and not get the hell out of the way. But furthermore, the Japanese should be held accountable for ramming a much smaller vessel — and putting human lives in great danger in the process. This appears to have been a full-on collision — not some accidental sideswipe. They should be prepared for a great deal of international outrage with this one.

[UPDATE 1] Jeff Hansen, Australian director of the Sea Shepherd organisation, said the Ady Gil had come to a stop in front of the Shonan Maru 2 vessel.

“It was stationary at the time. It tried to back out of the way but the Shonan Maru 2 had it in its path and it cleaned it up. It’s still floating at the moment, but chances are it will take on water and sink. Mr Hansen said the crew of six were uninjured. “Everyone aboard is safe, we’ve managed to get everyone off and they’re ok. We have it all on film and we’re getting onto all the authorities at the moment.” [via Australian Herald Sun]

[UPDATE 2] The Japanese ships refused to acknowledge the May Day distress of the Ady Gil and used the incident to break away from the scene of the ramming. 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. [via Sea Shepherd]

[UPDATE 3] The Sea Shepherd are now requesting that the Australian government send a naval vessel to restore the peace in the waters of the Australian Antarctic Territory.

[UPDATE 4] A video has been added to Youtube showing the Ady Gil confronting the Nisshin Maru earlier today. The video was shot by an operator on the Japanese vessel. Spoiler: Doesn’t show much.

[UPDATE 6] The official Sea Shepherd account of the distress call has changed from the first release. It now reads “The Japanese ships initially refused to acknowledge the May Day distress of the Ady Gil, but ultimately did acknowledge the call. Despite acknowledging the call, they did not offer to assist the Ady Gil or the Bob Barker in any way.”

[UPDATE 7] We’ve added two videos of the impact here.

[UPDATE 8] A new video has surfaced from the Ady Gil showing her last moments before the collision and the whalers clear intent to cause harm. Watch it here.


Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: , .

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

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  • Bob

    The SSCS claims Ady Gil was stationary, and reversed engines at the last minute to avoid collision. Video from the Japanese ship clearly shows a wake, indicating they were moving, and prop wash as the Captain of the Ady Gil applied significant amounts of forward propulsion just prior to the collision, ultimately ensuring they got hit, because a ‘near miss’ doesn’t get any media coverage! Do a bit of research – these guys are eco-terrorists.

    • Steven

      looks like underwater exhaust fumes to me my friend and the reason it looks like forward propulsion is the motor rpms probably increased to move backwards, and when the rpms increase so does exhaust fumes exhaust being underwater would look like forward propulsion. just a thought not proven we can go back and forth all day…

    • TW

      Looks like someone needs to go back to school and learn a bit about ocean currents. It is not just a big mass of water that stays still. The ocean currents could easily push a small boat like the Ady to cause a small amount of wake from movement, Also look at the video, all crew members are on the rear deck but one. So unless they were all speaking in Telepathy and could tell the future and new that the Shana Maru 2 would make a hard right, it could not be planned….. No the facts, then judge moron.

      • David

        “Looks like someone needs to go back to school and learn a bit about ocean currents.”

        You can say that again.

        A drifting boat moves with that big mass of moving water. So the boat moves with and at the same speed as the current, meaning it leaves no wake.

        Also only 5 people are on the top (not rear) deck of the Ady Gil, the sixth crewman was in the cockpit.

        International maritime laws require all boats to avoid collisions. So even though the Ady Gil crew couldn’t know that the Shonan Maru would hit them, they did know the Shonan Maru was going to come close enough to possibly cause a collision. So they were legally required to move their boat to prevent the collision.

        Know (not ‘No’) the facts. I guess we can judge you a moron now.

      • Yatta

        That *sounds* like a valid argument but in actuality it’s not true all the time,..boats can/do drift faster/slower than the water around them due to their shape, look at the cross section of any boat below the waterline. Water moves in different directions in the ocean, and even the difference in going up and down on a wave for an object like a boat can provide propulsion, boats are designed to go forward,..least resistance ie that’s where they go if there’s any force put on them. If you just sit still in a boat on the ocean (especially a smaller boat) the waves can move the boat forward and produce a wake. Not predictably or reliably but it will happen. Also those motors will produce bubbles no matter what they’re doing, the amount is equal to the work, those engines are on idle. And as far as “right of way in the ocean goes,..both ships are required to avoid collisions, as one was moving at full steam and the other sitting still, it’s the bigger moving boats responsibility (and far easier to boot) to instigate or avoid. That hit was 100% intentional. Eco terrorists or not, now the japanse are just as bad and should be treated as such. Shut them both down I say.

  • http://www.ecorazzi.com Michael d'Estries

    According to Paul Watson, the Ady Gil has sunk: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/01/07/paul-watson-the-ady-gil-has-sunk/

    • Galen

      What a tragedy that the Ady Gil (AG) has sunk! Such an impressive vessel. While I do monetarily and morally support the Sea Shepherd (SS), they brought this on themselves in what I would bet is a calculated case of martyrdom.

      As ‘Coastie’ as rightly pointed out above, much to disappointment of SS supporters, the AG is at fault and had a last second surge giving way to a collision that would have likely ended in a narrow miss if the AG had stayed stationary. Here’s the thing, the skipper at the helm of the AG should have been schooled enough to understand basic physics (the 1000 ton weight of the Shonan Maru 2 versus the 18 ton weight of the AG) and nautical positioning to know that a collision was about to happen and at the last second gave a pump to the throttles just enough to guarantee it. Think about it. The AG is a much more maneuverable vessel and in a tortoise and hare analogy, could have easily avoided a collision.

      What happened in the southern seas was SS sacrificing a beautiful boat and endangering the lives of their own to gain $1.6 million of publicity for their cause. Just look and marvel at the global attention they have received over this incident. They certainly got great value for their investment its just a shame that the world record holder in global circumnavigation is now at the bottom of the ocean. RIP.

      • Dave

        You sir are a complete and total moron.

  • FU Paul

    Below is the Material Safety Data Sheet for butyric acid. Please note that it causes severe burns to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes and my damage the respiratory tract. The sea shepherds are violent terrorists and are attempting to enforce a law that does not exist.

    http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Butyric_acid-9923216

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Lamb/100000872581980 Josh Lamb

      1. it will only harm you if you leave it on. A normal human responce would be to immediatly rince what ever is on your skin off and what ever is in your eyes out. If they did get harmed then that would be there own fault for just sitting there in pain. 2. The japanese are lieing about the scientific research, they showed this by in response to greenpeaces bill at the IWC to allow whaling ( the japanese did not know this) so they went off and killed 200 whales of the west coast of america. So there intents are no were near reasearch. You can kill 1 whale and be done with reasearch it does not take 1000 whales for reaserch. Learn your facts, dont be a prick.

  • Trunky

    Oh, what joy to see those She Sheperd morons being crushed.

    And the best thing is that the Ady Gil where thrusting forward, causing the collision and their own misfortune.

    The New Zealand court system will probably investigate, and hopefully arrest of the commander on board of Ady Gil for his incompetence…

    • Tim

      So true!! I so wished these bastards drowned… Maybe better luck next time.

      • agent orange

        Bastards drowned? What a pathetic pricks you are tim & trunky.

      • CysticVic

        I’m no fan of whaling, But I’m no “Bleading Heart” liberal, either. When the Steve Erwin rammed the side of that whaler, they were wrong, and should be be held accountable, Just as this whaler should be held accountable. However, the Ady Gil did propel itself forward just before the collision. That could have been a panic move, or one calculated to gain sympathy for the cause (Eco-Martyr?).

        For all hard core Animal Rights folks out there, do you see a similarity between the Sea Shepard people and that guy that killed the Late-Term abortianist?

        The light of logic is painfully bright when it’s shined on our own actions.

        If you want to support a real cause, look into the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Thaere’s a place you can make some REAL difference.

        Good luck out there, and play nice.

        CystiVic

      • Josh

        wow serisouly? They are the only ones actually saving any sea life u mindless prick

    • BD

      Agreed, nice to see these eco-terrorist on the receiving end.

      • billy jean is my lover

        BD you are a joke. Eco-terrorists? Please explain you drip.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000193727567 Kevin Vetters

    The interesting thing here is that if you watch the footage taken from the Bob Barker, you can plainly see the Japanese boat do a hard right straight at the Ady Gil. Then if you watch the footage taken from the Japanese boat, you can see that the Ady Gil was moving forward, but not under power. The other thing that is noticeable in both videos is that sound of the Japanese LRAD being used. Anyone familiar with with the LRAD is that it’s sole purpose is to disable the humans operating the “enemy” vessel. This being the case, if the driver of the Ady Gil had been incapacitated by the LRAD and the Japanese aimed for the boat, that is tantamount to attempted murder. At one point they has used the LRAD against Sea Shepard helicopter. Again, this is attempted murder, as incapacitating the pilot of any flying craft will cause it to crash. I do think that the Sea Shepard have gone too far at times, but at the same time the Japanese “Whale Research” lie has gone unchecked for way too long.

    • Aron carter

      lets be honest now….it is perfectly clear from the videos that the ady gill moved right under the ships path…you can make it out clearly from the jet of propelled water seen behind the ady gill moments before the crash. while i support ady gills’s action, i am thoroughly disheartened to see our guys whine like this! if the sea sheperd is willing to take risk, then same applies to the jap whalers too! the SS does sometimes cross the line which i don’t mind……but stop whining and get your act together!!

      • james

        you need to watch the vid shot from the bob baker. it clearly shows the Japanese whaling ship making a hard turn to starboard and ramming the AG. I have been a boater my whole life and can tell you, that was as intentional as it gets on the part of the Japanese boat. the other boat was idling in the water and it is very likely that because of the amount of water from the water cannon being dumped on them and the LARD system being used that the crew of the AG was unable to see where they were and what was going on. you CANNOT justify a collision between a boat under power hitting one that is not. no where in any maritime accounts will you ever find a case where a boat not under power was at fault for being rammed. those not under-power have the right of way, plain and simple. you non-boaters need to learn about maritime laws before you make comments.

      • Josh

        exactly the japs are to blame

      • adriangogo

        even the video from the ady gill shows how the japanese whaling ship instead of taking another route actually turn into the direction of the AG and when they were close to the AG actually turns on it . even if the AG was moving it was in his right since it was moving foward and the whaling ship turned into AG’s path even if it is a bit sceptical if the whent faster at the last minute the whaling ship is still at blame , but still both ships to blame for pour seamanship.

  • tneK

    Nice, you say it was suprised by the Japanese vessel as it was parked and then ran over, but the youtube video shows it harrassing the larger ship earlier in the day circling it and driving close to it? SHoulda told Batman to GTFO of the way, that thing for sure is easier to control than a large fishing vessel. They blocked its path at the last second, and got ran over. Take your greenie vessels and supplies of granola elsewhere, you do not belong on the open waters…

  • Kevin

    I am not sure that the Ady was actually under power, but it was most certainly not still in the water at the time of the collision. There is a small, but visible, set of turbulent water that can NOT, to my eye, be explained as the passage of waves past the Ady. Thus, the Ady was intentionally moving towards the path of the larger ship.

    As to the contention that the video from the MV Bob Barker shows a sudden turn on the part of the Japanese whaling boat towards the Ady, a simple movement of the MV Bob Barker from starboard to port (from the viewpoint of the Shonan Maru) will easily make it appear the Shonan Maru is executing a turn. The part about that which makes me believe such was the case is that a ship the size of the Shonan Maru does NOT execute fast and sudden changes of direction when at speed. While backing one engine with the other in forward will turn a ship in a small space, that’s not something you do in cruise unless you enjoy shearing off props and stressing your engines.

    While I undertand and applaud many of the beliefs the Sea Shepherds espouse, I would have to lay the blame for this collision at the feet of the Sea Shepherds. They clearly had the more maneuverable boat and were clearly operating it in a reckless manner. Although sea law states that when two boats are approaching on an intersecting course, the boat to Starboard has the right of way, it also presupposes that the ships will be operated in a reasonably prudent manner – something the Sea Shepherds were obviously not doing.

    Lastly, in another column, there is a picture with a crew member of the Ady Gil holding some device. The caption states that the crewman of the Ady Gil is holding a “projectile launcher”. _IF TRUE_, then were I the captain of the Shonan Maru, I certainly would have been aiming for midships of the Ady Gil and not the bow simply out of self-defense. The Shonan can be seen using water cannon to get the Ady Gil to provide some sea room, which the Ady Gil intentionally ignored.

    I understand that this is a tactic that the Sea Shepherds, Greenpeace, and others have employed to harass the whaling ships in the hope that it will be shut down. However, such actions have consequences upon occasion. This appears to be a situation where theoretical consequences have become actual consequences, unfortunately.

    • matt

      i am firmly on the side of the sea shepherds but kevin seems to be talking alot of sense here..why dont we just bang some sanctions on japan if they dont stop their ‘research’ whalers..

    • Richard

      “As to the contention that the video from the MV Bob Barker shows a sudden turn on the part of the Japanese whaling boat towards the Ady, a simple movement of the MV Bob Barker from starboard to port (from the viewpoint of the Shonan Maru) will easily make it appear the Shonan Maru is executing a turn.”

      If that were the case, then the angel to the Ady Gil should also have changed. In the video however the AG remains exactly as it. This proves beyond doubt that the japanese vessel did indeed make a hard right toward the Ady Gil.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Lamb/100000872581980 Josh Lamb

        woow. have you ever even been on a ship? ive been on boats my whole life, and if your on a large ship and your looking down and you turn, it looks like your moving forward. And why do you think the video just shows that one little point? because the japanese do not want to show any type of turning. The japanese tape constantly while the SSCS is around they dont stop.

  • Max Entropy

    I understand that they were able to get all of their pot off the boat before she went down.
    If the hippies want to play ball with the big boys, they’ve got to be prepared to take some shots. This isn’t hackey-sack, they are messing with peoples’ livelyhoods and lives.

  • d

    The Sea Shepherds are a group of eco-extremeists, they put peoples lives at risk every time they get underway. They participated in the same kind of actions all last year and finally got what they had coming! As for the LRAD use being attempted murder, good grief, witht the actions of the Sea Sepherds in the past it is more like self defense. I have no sympathy for them.

  • Andy Gill

    How can a fast, light vessle be hit by a big, slow one? By being in front of it deliberately, perhaps.
    And how come activists get furious over a few hundred whales being killed, while say 70000 moose are hunted each year in Sweden alone? Maybe anti-whaling is sexier than anti-hunting on land? Do you think the animals on land suffer less when they are wounded but not killed? And bullfighting… Best not to mention. Fundraising for pirates is easier than most fundraising too, isn’t it? My opinion

    • Matthew

      um lets see they were using an LRAD ON THEM! it makes you lose all control of your senses!

  • http://www.ecorazzi.com Michael d'Estries

    We’ve added a new video from the POV of the Ady Gil that clearly shows the Japanese whalers intending to cause trouble.

    Watch: http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/01/08/shocking-new-video-of-ady-gil-disaster/

  • murray dobbie

    It is clear the Ady Gil powered at the last moment to get as close to the ship as possibly (you can see the wash from the engine propelling the boat straight, not a turn) and misjudged. Otherwise it was deliberate in order to get a response, their campaign is dropping off the radar of late.

    Sea Shepherd is know as an extreme group, I would put nothing past them, they are clear they will do anything to stop whaling, even putting lives at risk faking a ramming.

    Lets be realistic, the Ady Gil was harassing the ship and got too close. the ability of such a large ship such as the Japanese one to turn at the last moment is not a reality,

    If you look at the last segments of the video you can see the wake from the Japanese boat and see it is a even arc, no deviation

    The captain of the Ady Gil is the one to blame.

    • Josh

      Watch the video from the bob barker clearly you can see the illegal whaling vessel change course dramaticly.

    • David

      “…clearly you can see the illegal whaling vessel change course dramaticly.”

      Then why did the crew of the Ady Gil tell the Australian investigators that the Shonam Maru did not change direction? It is right in the Australian report. So I guess you need an eye exam because the people we were closest to the action disagree with what claim is clear to see.

  • Doug

    It’s always fun till somebody sinks.
    I told you somebody was going to sink before they went to bed.

  • David

    The Sea Shepard captains are in the blame here.
    Here is a video of their typical behavior:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etv7V4zdG04

  • Tads

    To Trunky and Tim, you two fools should catch up and enjoy your hate winging together as your the minority. Those guys on the Andy Gill were doing nothing wrong unlike those liars the Japonese. Fact remains, the Japonese are crapping on the Useless Australian Gov by illegally fishing the waters and wiping out our friends the Whales.

    • Tastee Whaler

      You expose your ignorance here methinks.

      The SOLE PURPOSE of the Gil and Barker is to do exactly what they did.

      While we can commend their motives, the idea of trying to run down or collide with a steel vessel using a fiberglass or other such hull is suicidal and they are lucky not to have been turned into propeller (screw) meat by their so-called “Captain” who will surely stand trial for that at least.

  • d

    Our friends the whales? When is the last time you invited one over to watch t.v. or play cards?
    I find it strange that people put more effort into saving whales than feeding starving children, or helping babies that born addicted to drugs, etc. etc.
    Just an opinion.

    • Josh

      well if the whales die off then another section of the eco system will die off until we die off its eco science study it sometime

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q3wQ0Ux8TI#t=1m17s kujiraoishi

    Ady Gil crew shot a bowgun arrow at Shonan-Maru2

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q3wQ0Ux8TI#t=1m17s

  • Matthew

    Ok, i have to agree with kevin vetters! they were using a LRAD! that can my you lose all senses! the boat was not moving it got sucked infront of the ship when it got closer espically since the boat is bigger and made a very clear hard right towards the boat. The Japs on the boat should all be tried for murder and put away or even exicuted! im 100% with sea sheaperd and all they do! I back every decision they make!

    • http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/07/12/ady-gil-2-paul-watson-says-it-will-be-replaced-but-not-yet/ robs

      i agree with matthew but not the whole crew only the captain or who ever steers the boat

  • Skipper

    It’s the rules for prevention of collisions at sea. Anyway it also says both captains have the responsibility to avoid a collision.

  • shtscuper

    This is just great news! The sooner the SS get out of the way the sooner some real adults take over the cause rather then leave it in the hands of a bunch of self serving enviro-capitalist. Who have long forgotten that their purpose. Paul Watson gets richer with every collision. Fervent followers scramble to justify their commitment rather then stay true to their truest beliefs that man should not sellout to capitalism!

  • Enola Gay

    What is really absurd about these ridiculous claims by the Japanese is that on January 5th, the Japanese tanker Hiyo Maru refueled the whaling mother ship Nisshin Maru south of sixty degrees latitude in violation of the Antarctic Treaty that prohibits refueling in the Antarctic Treaty Zone. The refueling took place off Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay only 15 miles from a large Adelie penguin colony.

  • http://projectcamelot.org/ Whoever…

    Many of the anti-SS comments (some of them filled with hatred) only show what kind of people are the ones who defend whalers at all cost.

    People who defend torture and the death of animals are usually the same people who are glad when activists are hurt or killed! This says a lot about your character… evil people who, when your lifestyle and vision of the world are questioned, attack all of those who think outside the box and truly want to change this world into a better place.

    Sooner or later, you’ll realize that the people who you’re defending are the same people who wish to enslave you and have no problem whatsoever killing you or your family in order to carry out their plans. (= create fake terrorism so they can put into practice things like ‘the patriot act’ or make wars, create H1N1 to psychologically ‘force’ people to be massively vaccinated and thus destroy their immune system and carry out population reduction, create financial crises so they can make a huge profit, etc.)

    You obviously don’t understand what I’m writing about because your level of consciousness and awareness are extremely low. Too bad! You’ll soon pay the price for that.

    What really ‘shocks’ me though is that most of you truly think activists are terrorists (you’ve been so well brainwashed by the Illuminati that everything is terrorism to you now – the real terrorists are the bankers, religious and political leaders, CEOs of multinationals and oil companies, owners of pharmaceutical companies, the members of the Bilderberg group, and so on… the same people who are creating terrorism in order to control you with lies; and apparently they’re being very successful!) and that it’s okay to kill them, while at the same time you defend whalers who are nothing but murderers (they have no respect whatsoever for human and non-human life).
    Isn’t that a paradox? Where’s the ‘there is no excuse for violence’ argument now?

    Besides being hypocrites, zombies and liars, your level of evolution is very, very low!!

    Oh, and to everyone else, please just ignore the hideyoshi toyotomi character (who is not even a real japanese citizen – (s)he is a fake) because (s)he is obviously on the payroll of the whaling industry or the Illuminati! People are so oblivious to the ‘real truth’…

    I fear our future will not be a bright one at all if we don’t open our eyes once and for all…

  • night owl

    That facts are the Japanese are the terrorist scum bags down there with their high tech ships carrying on like victims as usual. oh how brave they are killing whales with explosive tips (how traditional) and having to deal with eco-terrorists on the high seas. Guess what, you butchers are illegally whaling and should be dispatched to the sea bed.

  • Algiers

    The milk of human kindness really runs through some people. Of all the twisted logic. A ship rams another ship, destroys it and almost lets the crew drown.. Yet, somehow the Sea Shepherd is the “terrorist”? To hell with the whales or the fact that they are illegally slaughtering these intelligent mammals or that Paul Watson and his crew has dedicated his life to saving them and our oceans.

    “No good deed goes unpunished.”

    You remind me of those extreme Bush wacko’s. If George were dragging Laura’s head across the white house lawn, they would find some way to spin it to being the dems fault! Or better yet, the “terrorists”, that new catch all phrase for anyone who annoys corporations and the politicians who sleep with them!

    If people aren’t posturing about the moral superiority of not giving a crap about animals or the environment, they they are getting hysterical when somebody does. However, just try to take the guns away from some of these “people lovers”. Why is it I don’t see message boards lighting up with lynch mobs every other month or so when somebody goes postal and murders 10 or 20 people? I don’t see anyone calling the NRA “terrorists”.
    Why don’t they advocate for gun control instead of getting hysterical of animal activists who actually (unlike most governments and corporations) don’t have a murdering and pillaging agenda?

    Personally I don’t believe that strongly worded letters to my congressman are going to cut it anymore. This world is run by bureaucrats and corporate whores. They own the field and make up the rules. Thank God there are a few people left with intelligence and balls. You go Paul! The rest of of “vegan terrorists” are right behind you! If you “go down with the ship”, it’s for a noble cause. If you take a few Japanese murdering filth with you, so much the better!

    “The Earth isn’t dying, it’s being killed” Utah Phillips

    “Whatever a man does to an animal, he will do to a man.” St. Francis

    • ddpalmer

      “Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth.”

      Mahatma Gandhi

      The Japanese did not ‘almost let the crew drown.” They maneuvered back to the scene as quickly as possible and where there within 5 minutes. The SSCS pictures prove this.

      The SSCS are considered terrorists by many people because of their actions over the last 30 years, not because of the Ady Gil collision. But it is also true that even if the Japanese where at fault the label of terrorist would still apply to the SSCS.

      Try looking up the legal definitions of terrorist and pirate. You will find that the SSCS’s actions fit both.

      The Japanese whaling is not illegal and there is no proof that Minke whales are more intelligent than pigs.

      The NRA isn’t a terrorist group because the people who go postal aren’t volunteering for the NRA and they aren’t being told what to do by the NRA. Do you consider Ryder Rentals terrorists just because Timothy McVeigh used one of their trucks?

      And if you really believe that dying to protect non-endangered whales is noble, then you deserve a Darwin Award.

  • Lance

    Ever hear of “The Law of Gross Tonnage”?the Ady’s engines were running. Maritime Law dictates that the larger vessel has right of way. IF the Ady was moored/anchored, it would be different, but the Ady was breaking the law here. The ONLY way that I see where the whaler would be to blame, is IF they were using an LRAD on the crew of the Ady. This COULD incapacitate them to the point that the Ady would not be able to respond.

    • Gavin MacQueen

      Lance,

      Wow, you really now how to take a law and spin it out of context. It what you’re stating is true, then any ship could ram any smaller vessel and get away with it. Hmmm, do you suppose that was what the captain of the SM2 was thinking? Did the captain remember “the law of gross tonnage” and think to himself, gee, I could take that Ady Gil out and the Ady Gil will be the one at fault. I don’t think so. Staying out of the way of a ship that is on a predictable course is one thing, but when a ship sees a smaller vessel ahead and then chooses to make a course change directly towards it is absolute negligence.

      • Lance

        Not taking the law out of context, IF she intentionally altered course to ram, then she is at fault. I say IF because if you look at all footage, it’s not clear that she did. Anyone that has been at sea onboard a larger vessel can tell you that the small boys appear to change course constantly, anyone going out on a small boy can attest to the pitching and yawing. The A.G. was breaking the law by intentionall trying to make the larger ship change corse to avoid collision.

      • agent orange

        The Japanese rammed the ady gil. I do not know why there even needs to be a debate on this.

        Those brutal whale killers are doing a lot more damage than everyone thinks.

      • Gavin MacQueen

        You forget that the SM2 was in attack mode with their water cannons firing, and their L-RAD blaring. You should read up on how an L-RAD can effect your thinking and impair your judgment. According to the AG crew, the SM2 looked like it was going to clear their stern safely, but then turned hard port at the last moment.

  • Sushi Fan

    Arrogant troublemakers got what they asked for. They are lucky to have escaped with their lives. I’m sure they learned nothing from the experience and will try to win the Darwin Award again soon.

    • Gavin MacQueen

      I believe Sushi Fan has been spending too much time at the Sushi Bar…the high mercury levels in Sushi Fan is effecting Sushi Fan’s brain functions.

      • agent orange

        Well said. I could not have put it better myself. Funny how clowns post some of the most strangest nonsense…

  • Pingback: Remote-Controlled Ady Gil Best Kept Away From Other Boats « ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

  • Poacher News

    Could this be another bad season for the japanese poachers?

    “I think we can guarantee now that the Japanese whaling fleet will fail to get their kill quota by 30% to 55% based on past observations of Sea Shepherd disruptions,” said Captain Watson, “They will not be seeing any profits for this season.”

  • Poacher News

    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has issued a November deadline for Japan to bring a halt to its so-called scientific whaling program in the Southern Ocean.

    Read more: http://www2.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=431497

  • Poacher News

    New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully: “I am simply trying to make sure that we win friends and influence people.”

    “We’ve managed to see meaningful discussions with the parties that hold opposite views and that’s very welcome,” he said. The only way to quickly stop whaling was by diplomacy, he said. “All of the alternatives involve time, expense and frustration. We may have to go down that path [legal action], but before we choose it, we should exhaust the diplomatic process.”

    Read the full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3356430/Govts-hand-may-be-forced-on-whaling

  • Hideyoshi Toyotimi

    I have now learned a different side to the story and back the Sea Shepherds completely. I was receiving my paycheck from ICR and They told me that they had intentionally rammed the Ady Gil. Go Sea Shepherd!!!

    • Charlie

      Ah, You’ve Finally Decided To Know What’s Right, Good For You Hideyoshi.

  • http://blog.babyganics.com Evan

    Was that a mistake or did they intentionally hit the whaling boat? Ouch. They could’ve used safer methods for confronting these whalers.

  • http://www.lucemsequimur.co.cc Danilo Bingham

    Worry not folks,
    the dear japanese, after the whales will be no more, they will start to produce & sell worldwide, mecanical, robot whales, in anycolours for everybody.
    I am saying that the jepanese should concentrate in producing food instead of robots, or cars, & cameras which cameras today looks more as a combat aircraft, with such a millions of controls that are fit init.
    Or maybe the future bring digital food?
    GodBless

  • Frog

    Water Cannons and LARD vrs Prop fouling attempts? The first will only affect you if you are unsafely aproaching another vessel, The latter can eaisly kill more than the prop in the deep blue.

    I have no problem with the SS taking up the fight, just there weak sause attempts and whining when the target fights back.

    You want to kill a prop, you float chain link fence into it like the tuna fleet did to the Coast Guard back in the good old Sword Fishing days in San Diego.

    But when you do, don’t whine if they try to take you out to protect themselves, no prop can eaisly mean death in those seas.

  • Stephan

    First of all let’s get some facts straight…. 1. In open waters each commander has the responsibility to avoid collision therefore they most steer away from any sea traffic in their direct path…(shonin maru #2 failed to do this as they steered towards the ady gil) 2. The japanese are illegaly hunting whales in antartica it is a WHALE SANCTUARY hence no whaling period. 3. Japanese had transformed the shonin maru #2 into an armed attack vessel (LRAD, firearms, water cannon) mained by trained security personel. The intend of this ship and crew was to disable any Sea Shepherd by any means necesary. 4. Launching apples and potatoes from a potato launcher is not terrorism…. generaly terrorism requires some sort of “explosive” or “massively destructive” event (9/11, london subway bombings, IRA etc…). 5. Clearly the sea shepherd tactics are not working and maybe paul should revert to his original ways and simply sink the whaling ships while they are docked… view late 70s early 80s when paul watson sunk the majority of the northern european whaling fleet. 6. Anyone who says “good finally some did something to the people who are fighting for the whales…blah blah blah”, all I have to say is how would you feel if someone came into your backyard and skinned your dog and sold it’s meat to their friends and called it research….. that is effectively what the japanese are doing to the whales so shut your pie holes you ignorant pieces of %&$@.

  • few2many

    The cry heard ’round the world.
    The japanese rammed and sank(sank some time after) the Ady Gil

    The plan. To position the Ady Gil just right to have only the forward most section rammed by the japanese. The Japanese would be held responsible and blamed by the liberal media, calling them dangerous criminals. Then, tow the Ady home and repair. When sent back out to sea, the Ady would then be a symbol of strength and determination for the fleet that Watson, as a man, could not be. (Kinda like the new batman movies where Wayne had to create a dark figure as a symbol)

    The execution: Have the Ady Gil make several very close passes to the Shonan Maru 2. Then, sit and wait for another nearby pass. At the right moment, accelerate into the path of the Shonan Maru 2, destroying just the forward most section. Send out a mayday, which the Japanese would definitely ignore after just having been herassed, assualted and then rammed by the Ady. With the Bob Barker so close, the Japanese need not respond.

    The evidence: From the Bob Barker, it appears that the Shonan Maru2 cleary rammed the Ady. However, in a view from the Japanese vessel (which the sea shepherds didn’t count on) there was initially no prop wash from the Ady, then, we can clearly see the prop wash along the length of travel from where the Ady was stationary to where they positioned themselves in front of the Shonan Maru2.
    “But the Bob Barker view shows a stationary Ady struck by a turning Shonan Maru?”
    Relative positioning. All the Barker had to do was give very little thrust at the same time as the Ady or already be moving a little that same direction to make it appear as though the Ady was stationary and the Shonan was turning hard. The shonan was veering slightly right to avoid a possible collision with the Bob Barker further up and would have still cleared the Ady, except for the sudden forward motion of the Ady. That tiny amount of movement on the open rolling seas would most likely be indistinguisable to the naked eye, handheld video and radar. However, we know from the Shonan video that the Ady was not stationary and the Bob Barker and Shonan videos do not show the Shonan leaning enough to make the hard right turn that would have been required to ram the Ady where they were. The only noticebable amount the Shonan leaned was on the large wave prior to the incident.

    The plans out come: FAIL
    Pete Bafoon, you’re ship sank and its Sea Shepherds, Watsons and you’re fault!!! Have you collected the insurance on the boat you spent a couple years trying to sell and couldnt?

  • http://ecorazzi SS supporter

    I completely support what the sea sheperd is doing! (although sometimes I think they take it a little to far)for some of you people who have posted I don’t believe you know the full exstent at which these japanese whalers are willing to go anytime a vessel like this can purposely harpoon whales for(so called research)and then if they don’t die fast enough take a gun and shoot the poor thing until it eventually does die!!you all need to acually watch this show and see how these vessels act maybe then you’ll understand.all I can say is keep doing what your doing sea sheperd because its people like me that are supporting you!!!

  • Innocent bystander

    Dear Stephan,
    The US Code of Federal Regulations defines terrorism as “…the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85). I don’t think “explosions” are a prerequisite for terrorism

  • I hate whaling

    I don’t think throwing rancid butter is terrorism……. Maybe insurgents will start throwing butyric acid at our troops in Iraq.

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  • bob

    boys mother mature took care of those basterds.maby forever

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