Whaler, Activist Ship Collide Off Antarctica

Second clash this year in Japanese whaling standoff

By the Associated Press

Posted Feb 6, 2010 7:08 AM CST

(AP) – The anti-whaling ship the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the icy waters off Antarctica today—the second major clash this year in the increasingly belligerent standoff over Japanese whaling. The activist group Sea Shepherd, which sends vessels to confront the fleet each year, said a small hole was torn in the hull of its ship, but it was above the water line and the vessel was not in danger of sinking, the AP reports.

Sea Shepherd's founder, Paul Watson, claimed the Japanese ship rammed the Bob Barker—named after the game show host who financed its purchase—as it blocked access to the Japanese fleet's factory ship, where the whales are butchered. The collision follows a Jan. 6 incident in which a Japanese whaler struck Sea Shepherd's high-tech speed boat Ady Gil and sheared off its nose. The Bob Barker then came to rescue the crew of the Ady Gil, which sank a day later.

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd, the anti-whaling group's ship the Bob Barker, left, and Japanese harpoon boat the Yushin Maru 3 collide in the waters off Antarctica Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Glenn Lockitch)

In this photo released by Sea Shepherd, the deck of the Bob Barker, the group's ship, is damaged after colliding with Japanese harpoon boat the Yushin Maru 3 off Antarctica Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Glenn Lockitch)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 40 comments

Newt

Feb 7, 2010 8:20 AM CST

@Clark Think you can get your point across without insulting someone personally? And I was referring to the masses of Americans that have recently jumped on the Whaler hating bandwagon.

Rocket448

Feb 7, 2010 7:08 AM CST

DLY you're a laugh-riot. You really think that the activist's efforts to defend whales from being hunted despite a moratorium on whale hunting is about "making themselves feel special"??? My god, you're an idiot.

kokuaguy

Feb 7, 2010 6:47 AM CST

Your husband is a lucky guy to have a smart, passionate, eloquent wife. 8 ^)

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Japan • Bob Barker • Antarctica • Sea Shepherd Conservation Society • whaling • anti-whaling activists

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Whaler, Activist Ship Collide Off Antarctica

Second clash this year in Japanese whaling standoff

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Activists Halt Japan Whale Hunt

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Nations Mull Secret Whaling Compromise

Plan would let Japan hunt legally, but decrease slaughter

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Action draws condemnation from Japan, Australia

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Whaler, Activist Ship Collide Off Antarctica

Second clash this year in Japanese whaling standoff

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Japan • Bob Barker • Antarctica • Sea Shepherd Conservation Society • whaling • anti-whaling activists

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Activists Halt Japan Whale Hunt

Harassment making Antarctic hunt 'unsafe,' says fisheries official

Boat Destroyed, Whaling Activists Take to the Air

Whale war heats up after Sea Shepherd boat is destroyed

Nations Mull Secret Whaling Compromise

Plan would let Japan hunt legally, but decrease slaughter

Activists Hurl 'Acid' at Whalers

Action draws condemnation from Japan, Australia

Activists Tangle With Japanese Whaler

Sea Shepherd up to its usual tricks; Japan not amused

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