Chase carries on as activists fail to stop whaler refuelling

[Barrett808]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Chase carries on as activists fail to stop whaler refuelling
Andrew Darby
January 23, 2008


http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/22/greenpeace_wideweb__470x312,0.jpg
Too dangerous … an inflatable Greenpeace boat squeezes between the Nisshin Maru and its resupply vessel. Photo: Reuters



GREENPEACE has failed to prevent the refuelling of the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru at sea in the Antarctic, increasing the vessel's endurance against anti-whaling activists.

Greenpeace campaigners yesterday ran a gauntlet of icy water cannon from above when they squeezed a small boat between the factory ship and its resupply vessel, Oriental Bluebird, temporarily delaying the refuelling.

But as the ships' hulls came together, the activists moved clear and the refuelling lines were hooked up.

"It was too dangerous to stay," said Dave Walsh, a spokesman on the Greenpeace ship Esperanza.

Oriental Bluebird has been delayed from refuelling the Nisshin Maru for up to 10 days as the factory ship tried first to steer clear of activists from Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, and then weathered Southern Ocean gales.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/activists-fail-to-stop-whaler-refuelling/2008/01/22/1200764263723.html

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The Oceanic Viking arrives in the middle of refuelling
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/whales/2008/01/the_oceanic_viking_arrives_in.html



©Greenpeace/Berg


As I write this the Australian surveillance vessel Oceanic Viking has finally arrived, in the middle of Nisshin Maru’s refuelling process. We have boats in the water, and it seems as if the factory ships is also transferring frozen whale meat from the first weeks of hunting. Meanwhile, the two catcher boats circled very closely around the Nisshin Maru and the Oceanic Viking, in order to prevent our inflatable from approaching, hoses on full blast. It looked like pretty dangerous maneuvering, and made me think of a carrousel where the colourful horses and elephants have been replaced by mean watchdogs.
oceanic viking


All of a sudden Oceanic Viking appears at the horizon. This has an immediate impact on the activities: the catcher boats slow down and increase their distance to the factory ships. As the Oceanic Viking comes closer they also turn off their hoses. In addition the captain of the Nisshin Maru calls the Esperanza, and urges us to keep safe distance. This is a bit strange considering that their own catcher boats is swerving around on a coin right next to the factory vessels.

[The Stranger]

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