Japanese sailors injured by Dutch ship piracy

Three Japanese sailors injured by Dutch ship piracy

New Zealander Peter Bethune launches projectiles against the Nisshin Maru in an illegal attack against Japanese research vessels. Photo: ICR

Japan’s Antarctic whale research (JARPA II) vessels were subject to hours of harassement from February 11 to 12, including another wire hawser and butyric acid attack by the Dutch-registered ship Steve Irwin and the Togolese ship Bob Barker.

The Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker repeatedly deployed wire ropes and used a launcher to fire butyric-acid projectiles against the Japanese vessels.

Three Shonan Maru No. 2 sailors resulted victims of acid-splash chemical injury from the Dutch ship attack.

The Dutch and Togolese ships have been pursuing the Nisshin Maru since February 6 and 8 respectively. Following a Greenpeace-style antics display on February 9, at about 1650hrs February 11 (JST) the Steve Irwin approached the Nisshin Maru port side to near-miss distance while firing a water cannon.

The research vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 too was subject to attack by the Steve Irwin which deployed wire hawsers intended to entangle and disable its rudder and propeller while the Bob Barker repeatedly fired a high-power illegal laser weapon against the Japanese crew. The Bob Barker also came directly across the bow of the Nisshin Maru deploying wire hawsers intended to sabotage its rudder and propeller.

Furthermore, the Dutch vessel deployed its rubber boats to launch-fire a number of red-dye projectiles against the Nisshin Maru. Also, the activists onboard the Steve Irwin rubber boats launch-fired butyric acid-containing projectiles against the Shonan Maru No. 2.

At about 2300hrs JST, three of the Shonan Maru No. 2 sailors who were readying to prevent any activist illegal boarding became victims of the Sea Shepherd projectiles, receiving acid-splash chemical injury to their eyes and face.

The Dutch and Togolese ships continued for several hours their attack launching many butyric-acid projectiles and smoke bombs against the Nisshin Maru.

The Institute of Cetacean Research strongly condemns the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society dangerous and violent actions carried out in contempt of the International Whaling Commission consensus criticism and demand for self-restraint and against Japan’s whale research vessels and crews who are conducting perfectly legal research activities in the Antarctic

The Institute of Cetacean Research urges again the Netherlands, which is the Steve Irwin’s flag state, Australia, the de facto home port country to the Steve Irwin, the Togolese Republic, the Bob Barker’s flag state, and all other related countries to take every means available to prevent the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society illegal and violent actions and strongly requests that these countries observe their international obligations and deal with the Sea Shepherd in a strict and objective manner.

ENDS

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