Arctic Sunrise rammed by whaler's factory ship | Home | Damage Control

Hi.

It seems they are getting desperate....

You have the evidence that they are the guilty.
Use them to show the world what kind of ppl they are!

I coldnt possibly be more negative towards them!

One more thing, if they can ram your ship and threaten you with their cannons who knows what they are willing to do to fill their quota of whales..........

Why dont you try to work together with the sea shepperd? organise your approaces?

Be carefull out there, im with you 200%!

Words fail me...#@%^&*@#!
I read your updates this evening and I feel sick...I wish I could win lotto and send a fleet to help you out!!!
On the other hand...give'em enough rope and they'll hang themselves.
Am expecting to see this all over the news tomorrow but if not rest assured I'll be calling the local stations and journos myself!
Please keep safe guys.

Glad everyone on the Arctic Sunrise is okay. I'm concerned for your safety - hope that Japanese wouldn't be stupid enough to actually hurt someone with a deliberately aimed harpoon grenade.
This could escalate into a full-scale international incident. But you have film footage to prove your case - hard to dispute that.
Wonder what exactly Sea Shepherd is doing down there.
Please keep safe - I know the whales are your priority, but it isn't worth the loss of life of one of your crew.
Rooting for you daily. Working on getting more of your story into the Canadian media.

If you have the full video evidence you could sue the IRC for the cost of repairs. There is also a case for libel seeing as the IRC has claimed Greenpeace rammed them.

As far as I know Sea Shepard has a more radical approach and often would be seen as against Greenpeace’s peaceful approach. Greenpeace is independent and works well following its own strengths.

Good luck.

As everyone now knows, the government of Japan subsidizes their whaling industry. I would like to repeat some information and add more for concerned readers who might wish to add protests to Greenpeace efforts:
Kyodo Senpaku, the whalers, are about 1/3 owned by Nippon Suisan Kaisha, a huge conglomerate. The only area of this corporation where they can be influenced to stop this activity is through their bank account.
Nippon Suisan (Nissui) owns Blue Water Seafood in Canada at 1640 Brandon Crescent, La Chine, Quebec, Canada H8T 2N1. Phone: 888-560-2539, 514-637-1171, fax 514-637-9250.
In Newfoundland Fishking Equipment (Nfld), Inc. is at PO Box 40, Cape Broyle, NF, Canada A0A 1P0,
phone 709-432-2727, fax 709-4323474.
In the USA, Nissui owns at least the following:
Fishking Processors,, Inc. (this is Mrs. Friday's brand) at 1320 Newton Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 www.mrsfridays.com They also own operations in Bellingham, Washington - Cascade Seafoods there, I believe., Bayou La Batre. Alabama, and in Roswell Georgia. Perhaps someone could look up those addresses for public awareness of products, which if bought, help subsidize this immoral and illegal whaling.
Nissui also owns as you know, Gorton'sSeafood at 128 Rogers Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, phones 800-222-6846, 978-283-3000, fax 978-281-8295.
It may surprise many that Nissui wholly owns Conopco, Inc. who produces Elizabeth Arden Brand, and perhaps others. Conopco is at 5400 118th Avenue North in Clearwater, South Carolina 33760-4315 with contact Ken Fregan at 727-573-1591. I have another address for Conopco at 700 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.
Since Japan officially subsidizes these whalers, and the US government is officially opposed to resumption of whaling, considerable effort should be valuable in influencing legislators and executive (Presidential) offices of our extreme displeasure at the purposeful damaging of (Greenpeace) ships in international waters, and the need to complain to Japan about this and of Japan's wilful contravention of international agreements and treaties through disingenuously calling their commercial activity, "research", selling toxic foods for public consumption, and further bringing a number of mammal species toward imminent extinction.
Thanks to all the brave and principled protestors in the Antarctic who are bringing this to world attention!

Glad no one's hurt. This is starting to get ugly. Keep up the good work. You guys are my heroes!

Thanx God. nothing happen to any of your crew , those jap are so stupid sometime....of course that all that was deliberated , hope that all the world see the true about the incident and please take care dudes , like said Ken , if they rammed you...god knows what else can do....

greetings from Chile....Your work is priceless

It's so difficult to explain what I feel in this moment. I was sailing in the MV Arctic Sunrise during the Patagonia Expedition at 2004, in Chile, an unforgetable experience.
The Arctic Sunrise is a beautiful ship but the most important thing is that we have the videos and the people is intelligent. To much people knows what Japon fleet is a killer machine, not RESEARCH, like they say.
One week ago, one of the most important news TV shows of chile shows a part of the action agains the whallers. That's very important because the people know about our expedition.
All the Greenpeace people (donnors, volunteers, staff and friend) are sailing too in the Esperanza and Arctic.
To much energy to you from de Local Group Araucania of Greenpeace Chile.
Congratulation!

Fernando Meza Teppa
Volunteers Coordinator
Local Group Araucania - GP Chile

Thanks Shane..., ...and isn't it so great, with this Love in your heart, ...how easy it is to see through their attempt at a diversion? How it's Light and reason causes you to see and understand the reality of the of this horrible thing that continues. Hold the Light Shane, ...Hold the Light - ...Wes

Ow boy keep chasing and hopefully some goverment does something about that factory..

the action of the whalers just fuels the fire against their actions. glad to hear no-one got hurt - must have been a scary moment though. my thoughts are with you all the time and i wish you well ... and thanks for being out there.

hi guys,what you are doing is fantastic(wish i was there)take care.............regads ross

Shane and all Greenpeace people, they do sound as though they're getting desperate to ram you like this but this incident seems to have focussed attention more on what they are doing, rather than less. It is such a relief that nobody was injured. What a shame it wasn't filmed. I suppose it's impractical to have a photographer doing nothing but filming the Japanese just in case. I have noticed in the press here (Australia) that the whale slaughter is getting more attention and more headlines. Last week i wrote to The Age and complained that their whale item didn't receive enough prominence and the next day their whale item headline was much bigger. I've also written to Australian Government Ministers (Ian Campbell, Alexander Downer, John Howard) and also the opposition. Also mail relevent websites (Aust Conservation Foundation) and ask them why they don't have an item about the current whale slaughter. Most don't, many people are only just going back to work after Christmas and are only just waking up. Yours in support

Appalling... I know you folks won't give in, remember: the activist community is always on your side. Take care.

After watching the video http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/whalers-ram-ship-111
it seams to me hardly a 'ram', just a scrape along the bow, typically 'inflated'.

REPLY FROM ADELE, GREENPEACE WEB EDITOR:

Please note that the second half of the video was taken at a considerable distance, from onboard the Esperanza. Also note that the Nisshin Maru weighs about six times what the Arctic Sunrise weighs - the Nisshin Maru is a huge ship of about 8000 tonnes: you don't want her ramming you OR scraping your bow!

You can read an account by a journalist who was on the phone to Shane Rattenbury at the time, which gives some idea of the impact.

There is also a 1.5m dent in the bow of the Arctic Sunrise, and the foremast was bent - so all in all, much more than a scrape.

Besides, regardless of the amount of damage, the irresponsible maneouvre by the Nisshin Maru was in breach of the rules of navigation at sea and put people's lives at risk - remember, water temperatures in this part of the world are extremely cold and any crew member from either ship unlucky enough to end up in the water would be in mortal danger.

Wow...keep safe out there while you keep up the amazing work. Nice story in The Age today Shane, what a pity it wasn't a radio journo you were on the line to ;)

Erin

Hi

There seems to be lots of people out there supporting your cause and becoming Ocean Defenders. Would love to hear some news on how you are going with getting to one million supporters.

Viva la resistance! Don't let whalers to take breath... your supporters from Prague.

Please answer some direct questions relating to the responsibilities of ships navigating on the high seas under international law.

Are your ships formally registered as commercial ships under a flag recognised by the International Maritime Organization?

If so, why are they obstructing the lawful passage of Japanese flag vessels on the high seas?

If commercial vessels, what are the views and actions of the flag state(s)?

Damn, if these whalers have rammed your ships about 3 times (twice during this action and once in 1999) and attempted to ram the Farley Mowa(Sea Shepherd vessel),have attacked one of your activists with a metal pole, and used water cannons on the inflatables, who knows how far this can go? How long will it be before they start using their harpoon cannons as well(I fortunatly hope never)? Keep up the good work!

I saw the story of the collision on BBC on PBS tv. I called the 3 local TV stations asking them to air this story here in Portland, Or. It would be great if many more people around the country and world would ask to have this story aired on tv. Something good could come out of this. It could illuminate the Japanese plan to kill twice as many whales.

My heart is with you. Bravo.

Marilynn Block
Portland, Or.

God Bless you guys. As helpless as I feel I take comfort in knowing that you are out there making a difference, although the Australian Government should be doing more especially now the Japs are heading towards Western Australia. Here we cherish and love the Whales as our own. Stay safe and don't lose hope. I wish I was out there with you.

REPLY FROM THE ESPERANZA

Hi John,

To answer your questions:

The Arctic Sunrise and the Esperanza (and the Rainbow Warrior) are technically Motor Yachts registered in the Netherlands.

Our bridge officers have the same level of technical maritime certification that would be required on a commercial vessel of our size. We also carry the same (or better) safety and communications gear that you would find on a commercial ship.

In answer to your last question, the whaler's factory made a full circle from where it was had been tied up along THE FAR SIDE of the tanker ship (the third ship you see in the video) for more than six hours. While we have been doing our best to peacefully intervene in their whaling, at the time they had to go well out of their way to hit the Arctic Sunrise.

Please know you are all in my prayers; you and the whales! You already have saved many, it seems, and for that I thank you with all my heart.
There already have been signs that your lives are in danger, such as when harpoon cannons are pointed at you, and when your rubber boats are flooded and capsized and you are dumped into that horribly cold water. But this intentional collision is horrendous.
I worry that you are all under a lot of stress. You are in danger; you are watching whales die, up close; you are perhaps feeling guilty for not being able to save all the whales. But be strong. You have many friends, and people who love you.

Great to hear you guys are all ok and the the ship is still capable of doing what it has been doing so brilliantly so far.
Take down those japs for what they did to you...i can understand you're concerns for safety of all onboard especially since there's icy cold water below and hostile whalers around you.
Good luck with everything you guys are gonna be doing... hope we can all join up and pit an end to this kinda sh@#

Im glad everyone was ok. Keep up the good work. We all are with you in spirt.

Dear Greenpeace: Your serene adherence to non-violent principles even in moments of assault gives you a watertight moral clarity to which the world is compelled, eventually, to respond. The violence that is invisible is more damaging that that which one can see, in every situation. Your refusal to allow the aggressive behavior of the whalers evoke a similar response, even on a verbal level, in you, clothes you in strength. The whalers are acting out of ignorance; one cannot seek to kill whales once one is awakened to what they are. Their assaults are also not personal. You are the victims-- but actually, victors-- in a display of blind rage at your persistent limitation of what they would like to do without limits. Like little children who do not know any better, they try to conk you over the head with blocks when you keep them from having their way. By seeking to avoid the Nisshin Maru, by refusing to engage at the level on which you were attacked, you demonstrate that the most their attack has accomplished for them is a gash in your prow, while what it has done for you is cede to you every last shred of moral high ground, integrity, and credibility. From now on they will be forced to speak only deceitfully and will not be able to appeal for sympathy to anyone in the world beyond the very narrow pathology of their corporate circle. It is in instances like these that the absolute wisdom and necessity of Greenpeace' commitment to non-violence and peace becomes crystal clear. Much as some of your readers might want to grab a block and hit back, by refraining at every level from falling so low, you are only strengthened, your witness made clearer, and your voice greatly amplified.
I am praying for your safety, for the safety of the whales, and for the restoration of human dignity and emergence of reality-based awareness in the whalers. Truly they have brought themselves very low, and it is always a sorrow to see human beings befoul themselves. This will not be a part of history of which honorable Japanese people will be very proud. I thank God that you and they are both physically okay. The fewer creatures suffer pain, both human and non-human, the better.

Please keep Focus in your mission, Saving the whales.
Stay strong and safe.

Regards

Please be careful! Don't like the story of them pointing harpoons at you guys. And for the poor Sunrise, I hope the damage isn't disfunctioning her in any way?

Media attention is multiplying internationally, seems if one major newspaper puts it on their frontpage then the others wake up as well. Finally also an item here on Dutch television, after a mighty silence since the beginning of the hunt. But again, nothing in today's newspapers about the ramming, strange given that the AS sails under dutch flag.

Any pics of the 'Oriental Bluebird' (tsss... ) with the slogan painted on it?

My thoughts are with you, sending strenght and courage.

I emailed MSNBC.com asking why they had no mention of this on their Environment page (they had a link to a story about acivists and butterflies! Oh my!) and finally today, Jan 9, they reported on the ramming. There is solace in that when Greenpeace takes it on the chin, it garners more publicity world-wide about what is going on (as if the hideous deaths and blood in the water is not enough to merit attention!). By the way, I first read of the ramming on Iceland's Morgunblaðið web site.

RESPONSE FROM ADELE, GREENPEACE WEB EDITOR:

Thanks for the effort Eric, nice work.

Thanks for everything.
We are with you.

Hasta la victoria siempre

Congratulations, captain and crew of the Artic Sunrise! You did a dangerous but extraordinary job in your/our cruzade for the whales's right to live. I would suggest to Greenpeace to increase Internet broadcasting about this event over Japan, to increase knowledge and consciousness among the japonese people. As we all know, only political presures from inside that country would be able to push government to direction of stopping the japonese coporations to keep commercial explotation of the whale meat. Sorry for mny poor and limited English skills, but get this: keep you going on, because we'll be the champions of this war in a near future! Anithing I could do from Porto Alegre, just ask.
From Rogerio Guimaraes Oliveira
GP associate, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

I send you all my strength and luck for you to keep on protecting the whales down there. I imagine it can be tough, and whenever you break down I recommend you to close your eyes and think on all the people around the world that support you. Ánimo!! I hope the ram wasn´t so bad, and you can fix the Artic Sunrise soon :o) I´m happy nobody got hurt!
By the way, I can´t understand why the whalers rammed you. Could it be because the Sea Shepherd rammed them first?(http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_060108_1.html)
hugs,
Marina Aravaca,
Spain

Whaling. What prehistoric bullshit! What an extroardinary age we live in where the divide between one groups activities and anothers can hold such extreme differences from a moral perspective. My appreciation as a fellow human being with a conscience goes out to all who do their bit to confront and expose this cold corporate machine.
But doesn't it make you so angry. Ramming indeed. I remember tactics like that in primary school. Boo hiss to the Japanese PM- 'C'mon mate, wake up!'

helllo!!!, sorry, this comment is in spanish,i dont know if you(ours)are going to understand the message... Barco rre culiao, a esos xuxesumadres que cazan ballenas no les gustaria q le chocaran su barco de frente como ahi, por la $%"&%*%%%//Ç···, yo conozco a un chico de mi edad q no le gustan las ballenas, lo voy a matar,mi primo es socio de greenpeace en la region metropolitana de santiago,chile les mando saludos,a uds.. xaooooooooooooo