Sea Shepherd disrupts vessels

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT – KYODO SENPAKU KAISHA, LIMITED / THE INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH
Wednesday, 7 January 2009, 9:24 am
Press Release: Joint Press Release
The Japanese vessels reported that at 2000hrs (Japan time), Tuesday, 6 January 2009, a darkened and unlit vessel appeared in the search area and was immediately identified as the Dutch vessel, Steve Irwin. The Steve Irwin approached completed darkened and only switched on minimum regulation lighting once it was identified.

Wednesday, 7 January 2009, 9:24 am
Press Release: Joint Press Release

Sea Shepherd disrupts vessels engaged in missing sailor search

Images below…

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT – KYODO SENPAKU KAISHA, LIMITED / THE INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH

The Dutch vessel Steve Irwin has not left the Antarctic and used the distress signal sent from Maritime NZ to locate the Japanese research vessels. According to Maritime NZ, the Dutch vessel did not respond to the call put out by Maritime NZ, but instead headed to the search area to harass the Japanese vessels. The Japanese research ships are currently engaged in the search for the missing 30-year-old oiler, Mr Hajime Shirasaki.

The Japanese vessels reported that at 2000hrs (Japan time), Tuesday, 6 January 2009, a darkened and unlit vessel appeared in the search area and was immediately identified as the Dutch vessel, Steve Irwin. The Steve Irwin approached completed darkened and only switched on minimum regulation lighting once it was identified.

The Steve Irwin called the Japanese vessels stating: “We have come to help in the search for the missing crewman”. The Japanese vessels responded: “We will not accept any help nor cooperation from the Sea Shepherd who has been harassing our research vessels”.

Steve Irwin responded: “We will restart harassing the whaling vessels once the search is over”.

However, the Dutch vessel began to harass and disrupt navigation of the Japanese vessels, even approaching abnormally (to zero point two miles) to the sighting vessel Kyoshin Maru No. 2, which was engaged in the search.

The President of Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Mr Kazuo Yamamura, said: “Despite our loss and that we are in the midst of a search, the Dutch vessel has begun to disrupt the navigation of our vessels in the search.” Mr Yamamura said: “There is a distinctly uncaring nature about Sea Shepherd people in that they are prepared to disrupt the search for a missing seaman for their own ends.”

The Director-General of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Mr Minoru Morimoto, said: “Clearly the Netherland’s vessel made use of the distress call and came to disturb our search. This kind of behavior should be condemned for its lack of humanity, and all concerned countries should take the strongest measures against Sea Shepherd, in line with the IWC resolution on safety at sea by taking decisive actions to protect the security of our crews.

Photographs: The Dutch Vessel Steve Irwin approaches the search area without lights, only turning on the minimum regulation lights once it was identified. Photographs to be attributed to the Institute of Cetacean Research, Tokyo, Japan

Earlier
Sea Shepherd Joins Search for Missing Japanese Whaler

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Steve Irwin has joined the search for missing Japanese seaman Hajime Shiraskai. The seaman went overboard from the Kyosin Maru No. 2 and is lost at sea.

The Steve Irwin is presently with the Japanese whaling fleet at the position of 62 Degrees 17 Minutes South and 144 Degrees 50 Minutes West. This is 1800 miles Southeast of Dunedin, New Zealand and 2600 miles Southeast of Hobart, Australia.

Captain Paul Watson informed the fleet that the Sea Shepherd crew had no intention of harassing the whaling vessels while they are engaged in a search for the missing crewman’s body. Captain Watson offered the Steve Irwin, two boat crews and a helicopter to assist in the search.

The Yushin Maru No 3 responded and declined Sea Shepherd’s offer of assistance saying that they would not accept help from an “eco-terrorist organization.”

Captain Watson answered that the Sea Shepherd crew would assist in the search nonetheless and would not interfere with the whalers while engaged in the search mission. The Steve Irwin has deployed two boat crews and a helicopter to search the area for the body of the missing seaman.

The Steve Irwin has over extended it’s time to join in this search and will have to cut off and begin to return to Port within 12 hours. Hobart is 10 days away and Dunedin is 7 days away. The Steve Irwin is planning on heading back to Hobart in Tasmania.