Nisshin Maru refuses Greenpeace tow

[Grant]

The whale factory ship has been wallowing in the Ross Sea without engines since a fire badly damaged its wiring last Thursday. New Zealand maritime authorities have urged the Japanese to accept a tow from Greenpeace so it at least can be moved away from Antarctica.

Fine weather is helping Japanese seamen working around the clock to repair their crippled Nisshin Maru.

However, Peter Williams, Maritime New Zealand's deputy director of safety and response systems, said yesterday that towing the ship north was the best option. "The question is, how long is that good weather going to continue?" he said. "You can tow in rough conditions but in rough conditions the risk of parting the tow is greater."

Japanese urged to accept offer of help - 22 Feb 2007 - Environment News - New Zealand Herald

[Grant]

Japan is likely to decide next week whether its disabled whaling vessel Nisshin Maru can resume operations.


The stricken factory ship is drifting in Antarctica's Ross Sea following a fire in its meat processing unit. Conservation groups have maintained that the fire means the end of this season's whale hunt, but Japan says no decision has yet been made. If the engine and the processing unit can be repaired, a spokesman said, operations can resume.

"We're pretty confident that the Nisshin Maru will be able to get going under her own steam again," said Glenn Inwood, who speaks for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research.
"And if they can get the engine up and running, and if the processing deck is repairable, they might decide to start whaling again," he told the BBC News website.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Japan may resume whaling voyage

[Kiwi]

This does annoy me So they have clear weather to work on the ship, but surely using the weather window to tow it away from the area would be better in terms of preventing an environmental disaster should the worst happen.

[Grant]

The stricken Japanese whaling ship the Nisshin Maru is due to start heading out of Antarctic waters tonight, according to Greenpeace. Anti-whaling campaigner Cindy Baxter said that the expedition leader of the Japanese government whaling fleet radioed the Greenpeace ship Esperanza to say the Nisshin Maru planned to start sailing about 8.30pm last night.

The vessel was left without power after a fire more than a week ago caused serious damage below deck, leaving one crew member dead.

[Grant]

Japan's whaling fleet has cut short its hunt in the Antarctic after a fire two weeks ago crippled the main boat.
The controversial annual hunt, which Japan says was carried out for research purposes, was meant to continue until the end of March.

But Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research said the Nisshin Maru boat could not be fully repaired at sea.

Japanese government officials said the fleet had caught 508 of this season's target of 860 whales.

[Grant]

Japan's main whaling ship has arrived back in port after an Antarctic hunt hit by setbacks including a fatal fire.


Despite being forced to end the hunting season early, the crew still killed 508 whales out of a target of 860. The annual hunt always makes headlines, as Japan insists it is done for research, while campaigners say that is just a pretext to procure whale meat.
This year's hunt was more controversial than usual, due to a high seas showdown with environmental campaigners.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Troubled Japan whaler back home