Whale wars new boat is sinking

Exactly my reading of the situation. Anyway the Ady Gil was the stand on boat approaching from starboard.

Given that the crew were on deck in a light boat, the ramming and subsequent hosing were doubly criminal IMO.

I'm surprised that the Japs made the video public because it would appear to condemn them.

John
 
aslabend said:
Sea Shepard organisation advocate violence to stop whaling so not my favourite type of people. Hope nobody was seriously hurt but they always sail "a bit close to the wind" when playing chicken with the whaling fleets so it's no surprise really.
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Agree
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&v=Rar9zxH1kts

This video taken from the SS boat, Bob Barker, clearly shows the Jap boat sharply turning course (it's leaning into the turn) and aims to ram the AG midships. The AG is also being heavily bombarded by water at the time which will obscure vision and which may delay their realisation of what is actually occurring. As the AG starts to get underway the Jap boat agains changes course to continue to aim midships and is probably further deflected off-course afterwards by the collision. As it was, it first hit the port hull which spun the AG out of the main path of the Jap boat which meant that, next, it "only" hit the AG's bow taking it clean off.

Given the disparate sizes of the boats, it would appear to me to be attempted murder by the Japs and luckily the only injuries sustained were some broken ribs by one of the crew.

I hope this is followed up in some international court so that some sutainable ruling can be obtained about the relative responsibilities of those involved. As it is there is a state of non-law as each state appears to not want to see what is really happening in the whale wars.

John
 
Colregs

The Japanese ship is obviously less manoeverable than the Ady Gill (which is why Sea Shepherd are using it) Whatever the prior actions of the larger ship, as the collision approached, the Ady Gil had an obligation to take avoiding action, which they clearly made no attempt to do. If anything, they made sure they were in its way.
 
I, too find it interesting that the video (made on the Japanese vessel) was posted for all to see.

In the last second or two there is evidence of a turn to starboard by the larger vessel. The lounge vid is pretty clear.

The smaller vessel was making way, gently, there is no evidence that I can see that she increased speed or altered course.

The incident was to be expected.
 
Sybarite said:
Anyway the Ady Gil was the stand on boat approaching from starboard.
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Yup, but we don't know whether the big boat wasn't restricted in her ability to manoeuvre etc, she could have been flying all manner of flags and signals

It's also up to the skippers of both boats, or all boats involved, to avoid a collision, if the possibility of a collision exists...So when the ickle black boat realised there was a possibility of a collision, she could have used astern to avoid a collision.

That's not saying that the big boat was in the right, but the way I see it is that both parties are to blame, what percentage of blame lies with each skipper isn't for me to decide.:rolleyes:
 
Sybarite said:
Given the disparate sizes of the boats, it would appear to me to be attempted murder by the Japs and luckily the only injuries sustained were some broken ribs by one of the crew.
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So what is the act of deliberately trying to disable a vessel in the southern ocean?

Immobilising a ship, and leaving her to drift endangering the vessel and the lives of her crew

Yet this is what the crew of the Ady Gil were doing before the collision.

gpandsea-img177.jpg


Oh and you can also see them using a laser (not the nicest thing to have flashed in your eyes)

There's a vid of them doing it here...but I think the time chack at the front might be a bit fake

a youtube video of the Ady Gil trying to foul the whaler @ 0:34 you can see the line out of the back
 
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I know my ColRegs quite well, and I rather think it'll be difficult for a Maritime Court to avoid the conclusion that the Japanese vessel was in clear breach of her obligations under international maritime law, and there may also be a case to answer regarding attempted murder.

I presume the Ady Gil's Flag State is the USA, and so I would be little surprised to find the Japanese 'Shonan Maru #2' being arrested by a US warship and escorted into a US port, there to face charges.

Only slightly tongue-in-cheek, I'd be intrigued to be able to read an MAIB Report of an Investigation. Stephen Myers and his lads would earn their crust on that one.....

:)
 
Lady Campanula said:
I presume the Ady Gil's Flag State is the USA, and so I would be little surprised to find the Japanese 'Shonan Maru #2' being arrested by a US warship and escorted into a US port, there to face charges.
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New Zealand ackshully. But even if it was USA flagged I doubt the US would proceed to arrest a ship belonging to a friendly state that is suffering from constant harassment from Dutch and NZ registered ships.
 
Lady Campanula said:
I know my ColRegs quite well, and I rather think it'll be difficult for a Maritime Court to avoid the conclusion that the Japanese vessel was in clear breach of her obligations under international maritime law, and there may also be a case to answer regarding attempted murder.

I presume the Ady Gil's Flag State is the USA, and so I would be little surprised to find the Japanese 'Shonan Maru #2' being arrested by a US warship and escorted into a US port, there to face charges.

Only slightly tongue-in-cheek, I'd be intrigued to be able to read an MAIB Report of an Investigation. Stephen Myers and his lads would earn their crust on that one.....

:)
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What ColReg obligations do you think the Japanese Vessel was in breach of?
 
snooks said:
So what is the act of deliberately trying to disable a vessel in the southern ocean?

Immobilising a ship, and leaving her to drift endangering the vessel and the lives of her crew

Yet this is what the crew of the Ady Gil were doing before the collision.
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I've seen them doing it with the "Sea Shepherd" (or whatever it's called this month) and been amazed at it.

They have also deliberately rammed the whalers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_b_IYQMSvM
 
Sybarite said:
Exactly my reading of the situation. Anyway the Ady Gil was the stand on boat approaching from starboard.


John
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Not wanting to start a ColRegs rant....may I remind you that the stand on vessel is supposed to maintain its course and speed.

Also the warps that were obviously intended to be used to jam rudeers or props are clearly visible. I support the whales but these cretins(almost a pun there!) deserve all they get.
 
Lost Cause

The fact that the sole purpose of Sea Shepherd's activities is to disrupt the activities of the fleet is contrary to the Col Regs. Whatever the politics involved, everything they do undermines the whole principle of seamanship and consideration towards other sailors and vessels. They endanger themselves and every other crewman as often as they possibly can. They must have known that there was a danger of collision... how many of us would have allowed our boats to get that close to a whaling ship? They had plenty of opportunity to withdraw. I suspect that had the whaling ship altered course, the Adi Gill would have just followed them and resumed their position. The ColRegs were not designed to help in a situation where a boat is deliberately and constantly trying to get into another boats way and then sit stationary in front of it in the middle of the Southern Ocean.
 
I feel a bit uncomfortable about people who cannot get others to agree by legal action, so try to disrupt their activaties by direct (and dangerous) action. Sounds a bit close to some of the 'religious' types about.
I am no QC, but I doubt that a court would find in favour of the GP mob in a colregs situation like this .
A

I am on the side of the whales, of course.

Always thought Earthrace was a wast of time. Perhaps infuenced by the 'Nepal' hippy cap the skipper wore. So a bit biased.
A
 
Seems a misjudgement on both sides - but I don't think the protesters have anything to complain about. Play silly beggars and sometimes things don't go well :rolleyes:

Besides, how were the Japanese really to know they were peaceful protesters? After all, the protest vessel could have been hijacked by Somali Pirates or Muslim Terrorists...........it certainly looks to have been acting suspiciously :p
 
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