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He added that there was still a lot of work to be done on the ship. They have managed to start the main engine, but the winch is broken down - due to low oil pressure. The factory deck of the ship is completely taken apart, as they've been taking down bulkheads to replace wiring. They have told us that they want to get across the line of 60 degrees south, and head north to Japan as soon as possible.

I have been wondering why it has taken so long to restart the main engine after restoring power. Clearly, they have already done so. Why then muck around with bulkheads, wiring and a winch—none of which has anything to do with getting the ship mobile? I might have a suspicious mind, but...

Regards
Doug

Link to Madrid Protocal isn't working. It's missing the h in http. Hyperlink points to ttp:/.....

Thanks willdawg, fixed now.

Doug - they've had to replace wiring as far as I know, and try to get stuff reconnected. Their winch isn't working.

It seems to me that someone in NZ authority maybe should consider reigning in Mr. Inwoods NZ passport.

There's a lot of spin and indeed Doug why bother with the winch, unless it affects the "trim' of the vessel.....????

Yes, Dave, I understand that. Normally, in a situation such as that in which the Nisshin Maru finds itself, the engineers' priorities would be to restore engine-room services. As they have run the main engine, they have obviously completed that task. Moreover, to run the engine-room services, they would have had to isolate the electrical supply to damaged areas of the ship.

The question in my mind is why they are working on electrical systems in the area of the production deck. It is unlikely that electrical cabling in this area would affect the operation of the vessel. As you have shown, the vessel's communication systems are operational, and it is reasonable to assume from that that the vessel's navigational equipment is also functioning.

The mention of the winch is also puzzling. You have reported that the Nisshin Maru and its accompanying vessels are drifting. In any case, the depth of water where you are negates any possibility of anchoring. To what winch did the Nisshin Maru refer, and why is it important to get it running? You don't need a winch to run a ship.

I can think of no valid reason why, if they are able to start the main engine, the ship is not underway. I feel there is something odd here. Japanese engineers are among the most resourceful I have encountered, so the time they are taking to get the vessel out of the area seems somewhat excessive.

Regards
Doug

I am wondering how the mood is on board of the Nisshun Maru. They lost a mate and had a severe fire. Probably they need help and support to get a soon as possible back to Japan.

Great statement and analysis, Dave & Sara. I think Inwood is an extremely driven man who's life goal is to stick it to people who care about things.

Dave, awesome post, and perfect timing. I went back to my cyberaction post at Daily Kos (click my name) to see the new comments. One of them was from someone who is clearly falling for the ICR spin.

Check it out, and check out how I used this blog post in my reply.

Doug, I think you're misunderstanding us - they have't given any indication that they need the winch. We asked them were about to start whaling again, and they said no - the winch isn't working and the factory deck is dismantled. The winch isn't working, and evidently is not the prime concern for them just right now.

I don't get it - aren't the whalers in touch with their own bosses? How come you're the ones relaying the most info from land to them?

Great and comprehensive explanation of what's happening on the scene (as opposed to ICR's dusty offices in NZ and Japan). Really appreciate the round up of events and the background.
The only thing to say now is: GET THAT SHIP OUT OF THERE ASAP!!! and let this be the last time the whaling fleet operates - there or anywhere.
Old habits die hard as we know, but I'm sure the Japanese public is as outraged as the rest of the world. It's a murky scandal- using the Japanese taxpayers money to continue this outdated practice - it's certainly NOT for science.
I have respect for the Japanese people, I hope this incident will expose what is being done in their names and they send a clear message to their government rejecting it once and for all.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Keep the info coming !

I hope the Japanese whaling fleet aren't playing mind games.
Surprises me that the fleet has taken so long with an action plan to get the ship out of the area, unless they actually do plan to finish out some of the whaling season.

If they plan to continue whaling once the Nisshin Maru's engines are working, they are not likely to tell you. Probably would like to lose you so you are not witnesses.

What has happened to the whale meat on board? Is it being properly refrigerated - electrical power was restored after a few days according to reports.
The crew must be under tremendous pressure from ICR and the Japanese government to save face.
I hope world opinion is changing in opposition to whaling in the Antarctic. The potential for environmental catastrophe is too great.

I'm also disturbed that Japan apparently doesn't feel compelled to honour Treaties they are signatories to. Too much duplicity to believe anything the whalers, Japanese government or ICR tell us. Sorry.

Excellent report Sara and Dave - thank you.

Just to say this is great and exciting and relevant stuff, and I greatly appreciate it. You must expect lies from the ICR, they've been practicing for years! Sidney

Liar liar boat's on fire?

Hi Echo - right now, we don't know what the story is with the whale meat on board. Thanks!

"The last report we had . . . was that the engine was going. They'd replaced all the wiring, and checked all the gauges and the mechanics of it, and kicked the old girl into gear," Inwood told New Zealand's National Radio.
Boston Globe, February 22nd

but don't forget that all of this spin is coming from a man who tells us that the Japanese whale hunt is for scientific reasons.

... and who organised a yahoo poll (you know, one of those ones where you post a question and get all your mates to vote) and pronounced that the results tell us that 90% of the Japanese public support whaling - which we know is utter rubbish.

The Japanese are ecstatic that they've got Inwood, who's not only a New Zealander, but a Maori New Zealander, peddling their messages for them. He's beyond belief and I've seen people turn their backs and walk away from him at the IWC because they simply can't stomach what he's doing for his pile of yen.

Whaling is illegal in New Zealand and its also illegal for a New Zealander to go whaling, anywhere in the world. What Inwood is doing may be verging on breaking those laws. The New Zealand government should be thinking hard about that.

Glenn Inwood is to whaling what crooked MDs were to the tobacco companies in the 1960s. "I'll say ANYTHING you want -- where's my paycheck?"

Lots of Maori New Zealanders have no problem with whaling.

Take Shane Jones of the Labour party. He thinks "anti-whaling" is a "Pakeha" perspective (Google for it). Other Maori agree (others disagree too, of course - there are diverse views).

It's interesting that commenters here are so threatened by the fact that such a perspective must be stamped out in New Zealand. I'm a New Zealander too, but they didn't arrest me last time I was back in the country.

Rather than villianise these opposing perspectives, Greenpeace should encourage a more respectful exchange of views amongst these peoples of different backgrounds.

Hi David, we thought we'd lost you.

Now, don't be casting aspersions - you know well that comments to the blog do not necessarily reflect the views of Greenpeace. You're a shining example of that yourself! People visiting this blog, and reading your comments, aren't going to start thinking that Greenpeace supports whaling now, are they?

One thing's for sure...

Inwood's got more spin than the Nisshin Maru's propellers! Strap him to the back of that factory ship and they'd be home in no time!

:) ;)

Update: After nine days the Nisshin Maru's engines are (for real) started, and it is under way again. (Well done to their engineers for pulling off this minor miracle.)

As a wrap, there's a good article in the Shipping Times on all this.

Only small gripe with it is that Greenpeace activists have never "vandalized" the Nisshin Maru. That's just spin from the bosses in Tokyo.

Greenpeace activists did occupy its mooring lines once to keep the factory ship from leaving port. That was in New Caledonia. (As far as I know, the Nisshin Maru has never been to New Zealand.)

Maybe they have problems with another winch the one they use to pull the mooringlines in that case (when it's not a steamdriven but electrical) it's not that strange they are putting in new wires.
As far as I know it's not alowed to sail a ship as long as it is not completely seaworthey and have to be towed if it can't be moored properly.

Let's hope this was her last trip only one left to the scrapeyard ( a good one ).

Sorry for my rusty English

I just heard today that Glenn Inwood has told media that he has received death threats as a result of Greenpeace criticism of what he has been saying about the situation with the Nisshin Maru. I can tell you our official position on this and it is pasted below my comment... but first of all my personal position is that anyone who resorts to that is a coward and is very very wrong. My friends in Japan have also suffered this kind of hideous abuse because of their stance on whaling. If anyone is reading this and thinks it is a good idea to threaten anyone with violence they have no place supporting Greenpeace. Okay - now the official version:

Greenpeace is a peaceful organisation and we condemn any violence or threat of violence. We sympathise with Mr. Inwood, as our own campaigners in Japan have also received abusive emails and phone calls hoping they would die, because of Greenpeace's position on whaling. These kinds of threats toward anyone are completely wrong.

Greenpeace posted a blog about the misinformation that has been circulated by Glenn Inwood on behalf of the Institute for Cetacean Research, because we believe it is important to bear witness to what has really been happening in the Southern Ocean. Our accounts of the condition of the fleet are completely consistent with those being reported by the New Zealand rescue service. Mr. Inwood's are not.

Postings to the Greenpeace blog "Sorry Mr. Inwood, could you say that again" contain no threats to him and nor would Greenpeace allow one to be posted.

Mr. Inwood truly likes to make himself look foolish. He has publicly criticised Maritime NZ for releasing out-of-date information. But MNZ had received promises from ICR and the Nisshin Maru that they would provide new information as the situation changed. I wonder who Mr. Inwood thinks MNZ is getting its information from?



Nisshin Maru out of Ross Sea (NZ Herald)

Mr Innwood also had some harsh words for Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), which would have co-ordinated a rescue effort should it have been needed and which had been monitoring the situation.

"Maritime New Zealand all week have been behind the times and I am tired of them making ridiculous claims," he said.

"I saw them yesterday (reported as) saying 'as far as we're aware the engines haven't been started'.

"The proof is in the pudding. We're not there."

MNZ spokeswoman Julia Lang told NZPA it had daily calls with the Nisshin Maru and that its latest advice -- received yesterday afternoon -- was that the engines had not been started.

The Nisshin Maru was supposed to notify MNZ if they started the engines but had clearly failed to do so as this morning's advice was: "They're not on the move."

Mr. Inwood also seems intent on abusing the very people these whalers would be relying on to resue them if anything serious happened. MNZ and Greenpeace are the only ones who could have any hope of providing help in an emergency. The Japanese navy is nowhere in sight. If he was sitting stranded in a non-ice-equipped ship as the ice got closer, I doubt he would be so quick to fire off his ill-considered abuse.

Good grief - thanks for that tochigi - Mr Inwood is on a bit of a rampage, eh?

I think we need to give Glenn the Golden Shovel Award for his services to Public Relations....

QUOTE "....they have't given any indication that they need the winch. We asked them were about to start whaling again, and they said no - the winch isn't working and the factory deck is dismantled. The winch isn't working, and evidently is not the prime concern for them just right now.

Posted by: Dave on the Esperanza at February 22, 2007" UNQUOTE.

The winch they're referring to is the haulway winch, which makes sense. The NM response was honest and appropriate.

Postscript.

The USCGC Polar star docked in Hobart on Saturday.

Keep it it up, Glenn. You are starting to sound like Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, the former Iraqi Minister of Information. Your inane rants fly in the face of observable facts, yet your rhetoric only becomes more pitched and farcical. You are a credit to your profession, and a boon to the GP cause.

This morning, on Newstalk ZB (New Zealand):

PAUL HOLMES: How many ships in total have you got there [Southern Ocean]?

GLEN INWOOD: About six.

But it could also be seven of eight ships? What an answer. Don't think mr. Inwood would tell the truth anyway...

No-one is suggesting that those "views be stamped out" in New Zealand or elsewhere. People are entitled to think what they like. But whatever ethnic or cultural group you belong to in New Zealand, if you are a New Zealand citizen it is illegal for you to participate in whaling anywhere in the world. That's not a "view", its a fact.

Surely Glenn Inwood is participating in whaling by doing what he's doing - he works for an organisation that goes whaling.

Further to David's comments about Shane Jones and his comments about whaling - I think you need to look more closely at the links between the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission (of which Jones was chair), and the complex ownership of shares and therefore control of New Zealand fishing quota, including the ownership of some of those shares by Nissui - the Japanese company which until recently ran the whaling operations -see oceans.greenpeace.org/en/our-oceans/whaling/gortons.

Most recently, the chief executive of the Commission, which after all is really only concerned with fisheries in New Zealand, attended the St Kitts IWC meeting for a full two weeks. And there have been meetings of the World Council of Whales in New Zealand.

There's a lot going on with these links - but you have to ask, if Japanese companies didn't have all those stakes in New Zealand's fishing industry, would Inwood be working for ICR? And would the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission be interested in enough in whaling to send its CEO to the Caribbean for two weeks?

Thats the only Japanese thing I despise = Nisshin Maru. Yamero yo !

Hi guys! How are things going down there now? I've been trying to get an update on-line, can't find anything & was hoping you'd have time to get a new blog up soon.

Cheers, Christine

I just read in the Guardian that the Japanese whalers will return to Japan and discontinue this year's slaughter -- is this correct?

Christine, please check the front page for updates »

Hi Jessica Yes, it's true »