A look inside the Ady Gil:
http://www.ultimedia.com.au/virtual/AdyGil/index.html
Captain Paul Watson
Bob Barker helps stop whaling with namesake ship
By SANDY COHEN AP Entertainment Writer
Summary
Five million dollars for an anti-whaling ship? Bob Barker says the price is
right.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Five million dollars for an anti-whaling ship? Bob Barker
says the price is right.
Barker donated that amount to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which named
its new 1,200-ton anti-whaling ship The Bob Barker.
The ship had its first confrontation with whalers on Tuesday when it joined two
other Sea Shepherd vessels aiming to stop a Japanese whaling mission near
Antarctica.
"Whaling was shut down today," Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said via
satellite phone from aboard a nearby ship. "There's no whaling now and hopefully
no whaling after this."
The Bob Barker is a high-speed former whaling ship that can cut through ice,
Watson said, adding that the vessel "makes it a lot easier for us to shut down
these whaling operations."
Sea Shepherd, which Watson describes as an "anti-poaching organization," aims to
enforce the United Nations World Charter for Nature by physically intervening in
illegal whaling missions.
"They're targeting endangered and protected whales," he said.
Barker, a longtime animal activist, stepped up his efforts even more after
retiring from his 35-year gig hosting "The Price Is Right." He met Watson
through a fellow animal activist and was instantly impressed.
"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if
he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to
do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did."
Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd.
And while the TV studio where "The Price Is Right" is filmed is officially
called the Bob Barker Studio, the veteran broadcaster said he's never had a ship
named after him.
"It was our idea to name it the Bob Barker. He's a little too humble for that,"
Watson said. "I thought it was the least we could do."
~BOB BARKER DONATES $5,000,000 TO SEA SHEPHERD FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION~
Another anti-whaling ship arrived in the Southern Ocean today, unexpected and
right on time: the Bob Barker.
The 1,200-ton Norwegian built Antarctic harpoon vessel caught up with the
Japanese whaling fleet at 0300 Hours on Wednesday, January 6th, in the area of
Commonwealth Bay off the Adelie Coast at 143 Degrees 17 Minutes East and 66
Degrees 43 Minutes South. The Norwegian flag cracked in the chill Antarctic air
as the silhouette of the whaler gave every indication that the ship was sent to
support the Japanese whalers.
The Japanese could be forgiven for thinking that the pro-whaling Norwegians had
sent a ship to support their illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. But any excitement turned to disappointment quickly as the
Norwegian flag was hauled down and the black and white skull with crossed
Trident and Shepherd�s crook was raised to announce the arrival of the Bob
Barker, the latest ship acquired for the Sea Shepherd ocean defense fleet.
Thanks to a $5,000,000 contribution from American television personality and
icon Bob Barker, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was able to quietly
purchase and refit the former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice strengthened
fast chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th to join up
with the Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean.
Barker has also funded the cost of a helicopter that will accompany the
society�s ships. The aircraft is named The Nancy Burnet after the president of
United Activists for Animal Rights, an organization Barker also supports. This
new helicopter will participate in future campaigns.
�I�m delighted to be able to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in its
mission to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the
world�s oceans,� said Barker. �There is lot of talk about preserving our
ecosystems and species, but this is one organization that puts these words into
action.�
For the first time ever, Sea Shepherd has three ships on the Japanese fleet and
each ship gives the campaign unique abilities. The long range fast ice class Bob
Barker will take the lead in harassing the Japanese fleet and will be able to
stay on station for three solid months without refueling. The Steve Irwin will
be carrying the campaign helicopter and will coordinate all flight activities in
addition to blocking loading operations on the Nisshin Maru, the factory ship.
The Ady Gil, with twice the speed of the Japanese harpoon vessels, will
concentrate on intercepting the fast chaser vessels to block their hunting
activities.
The objective of the Sea Shepherd fleet is to sink the Japanese whaling fleet
economically � to bankrupt the whaling industry by cutting whale kill quotas in
half and costing the whaling fleet their annual profits.
This year�s campaign has been named Operation Waltzing Matilda to reflect the
Sea Shepherd�s gratitude to the people of Australia for their incredible support
since 2005 for our activities.
Thanks to the generous support of Bob Barker, the Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society has been given the means to seriously impact the profits of the whaling
industry this season. Now more than ever, we are confident that we will be able
to drive the outlaw whalers from the waters of the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.
The Japanese whalers are discovering that the price is no longer right. With Sea
Shepherd cutting their kill quotas in half and canceling their profits for a
fourth year in a row, the heavily subsidized whaling industry is on the ropes
financially.
�We intend to bankrupt the whalers,� said Captain Paul Watson.
Take Action Today:
You can do your part to help Sea Shepherd defend the whales. Give generously to
Sea Shepherd:
http://www.seasheph erd.org/support- us/
You can also contact the Embassy of Japan and their New York City Consulate
Office during business hours, ask them to stop their illegal whale hunting
activities in the Southern Ocean:
Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki
Embassy of Japan in the USA
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 1.202.238.6700 or 6900
Fax: 202.328.2187
e-mail:
jicc@embjapan. org
Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya
Japanese Consulate General
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10171
Phone: 1.212.371.8222
Fax: 1.212. 371.1294
e-mail:
inquiry@ny.cgj. org
If you do not live in the United States, go to the following link to find your
closest Embassy or Consulate office:
http://www.embassyw orld.com/ embassy/Japan/ Japan.html
Breaking News:
Japanese Sink the SSCS Ady Gil
All Crew Members Safe
download the flv file
download the wmv file
http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/77727/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat-ady-gill.html
Japanese ship sinks whale protest boat Ady Gil
Jan 06, 2010 4:15pm
Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's stealth boat Ady Gil has been cut in half by a
Japanese security vessel in the Antarctic today, the group's leader Paul Watson
said.
The high-tech stealth boat Ady Gil was cut in half and sunk by a Japanese
security vessel in Antarctic waters today, dramatically upping the stakes in the
annual struggle between whalers and protesters.
Sea Shepherd group leader Paul Watson told Fairfax Media the $1.5 million Ady
Gil was sinking, but its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured.
Captain Watson said the Ady Gil was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay,south
of Hobart, when it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship
Shonan Maru, which has been detailed to provide security to the fleet.
Earlier today, the fleet was contacted for the first time by the Ady Gil and Sea
Shepherd's "secret" third vessel, the Bob Barker.
Captain Watson, aboard the Steve Irwin, said he was still 500 nautical miles
from the scene.
"This seriously escalates the whole situation," Captain Watson said of the
collision.
Video footage released by the Institute of Cetacean Research shows the Ady Gil
stalking the Japanese ship, towing ropes from its stern.
The ICR said the Ady Gil came "within collision distance" directly in front of
the Nisshin Maru bow and repeatedly deployed a rope from its stern "to entangle
the Japanese vessel's rudder and propeller".
The statement accused the activists of shining a laser device at the Nisshin
Maru crew and launching acid-filled projectiles, one of which landed on the
vessel's deck.
After broadcasting a warning message, the Nisshin Maru sprayed the Ady Gil with
water cannons to prevent it from coming closer, the ICR said.
Captain Watson told Fairfax in November the Ady Gil would be used to intercept
the whaling fleet's chaser boats.
"What I think we can do is latch onto at least one of the three harpoon vessels
and keep them out of the picture," he said.
Looking more like Batman's spacecraft than a boat, the biodiesel-powered
trimaran Ady Gil arrived at the Southern Ocean stand-off between Japanese
whalers and activists yesterday.
It was reported this morning to be about 50 nautical miles away from the whaling
fleet.
Japan's Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu had earlier warned two security
ships would be used to protect the whaling fleet, intervening when Sea Shepherd
tried to block the transfer of harpooned whales to the factory ship Nisshin Maru.
Captain Watson this morning announced the existence of a secret third ship in
the Sea Shepherd flotilla.
He said he was confident that with three ships, Sea Shepherd would be able to
cause maximum disruption to the whaling, which has been underway for around a
month.
Japanese whalers have stepped up security this year, sending spy flights from
Australian airports to track protest ships.
The Hobart flights were paid for by Wellington-based Omeka Communications, air
industry sources told Fairfax.
Omeka is a public relations firm retained by Japan's Institute of Cetacean
Research. The Hobart flights carried Omeka's principal, Glenn Inwood, who is an
institute spokesman, and another man, the sources said.
The operation started in December when the Steve Irwin left Fremantle to
intercept the whaling fleet, which this year is targeting 935 minke whales and
50 fin whales.
WA pilots said surveillance flights continued out of Albany for somedays,
costing a ''truckload'' of money. Two men aboard the flights toldlocals they
were ''looking for people who were looking for whales''.
The Rudd Government has repeatedly called for caution by both sides in the wilds
of the Antarctic.
"We have reminded the masters of protest vessels of their obligations under
international law to take all steps to ensure safety of life at sea,
particularly in the inhospitable conditions of the Southern Ocean," Environment
Minister Peter Garrett said recently.
"We are also passing the same message to the government of Japan."
FACTS ON THE ADY GIL
Top speed: 40 knots (74 kmh)Cruising speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)Range: Halfway
around the world - 20,000 kmCost: Estimated $1 millionLength: 24 metresWeight:
16 tonnesConstruction: Carbon fibre foam sandwich with kevlar armour.
Article from: WA Today
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
You can do your part to help Sea Shepherd defend the whales. Now more than ever,
give generously to Sea Shepherd:
http://www.seashepherd.org/support-us/
Let's make sure the Japanese Embassy and their Consulate offices come in to
voice mail and e-mail messages this morning. Contact the Embassy of Japan and
their New York City Consulate Office asking them to stop attempting to kill
whales and to stop trying to murder our activist friends:
Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki
Embassy of Japan in the USA
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 1.202.238.6700 or 6900
Fax: 202.328.2187
e-mail:
jicc@embjapan.org
Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya
Japanese Consulate General
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10171
Phone: 1.212.371.8222
Fax: 1.212. 371.1294
e-mail:
inquiry@ny.cgj.org
If you do not live in the United States, go to the following link to find your
closest Embassy or Consulate office:
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Japan/Japan.html
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, contact:
centcom@war-online.org
Famed Catamaran is sinking in the Southern Ocean
Six crewmembers Rescued by the Sea Shepherd Ship Bob Barker
In an unprovoked attack captured on film, the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru
No. 2 deliberately rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd
catamaran Ady Gil.
Six crew crewmembers, four from New Zealand, one from Australia, and one from
the Netherlands were immediately rescued by the crew of the Sea Shepherd ship
Bob Barker. None of the crew Ady Gil crew were injured.
The Ady Gil is believed to be sinking and chances of salvage are very grim.
According to eyewitness Captain Chuck Swift on the Bob Barker, the attack
happened while the vessels were dead in the water. The Shonan Maru No. 2
suddenly started up and deliberately rammed the Ady Gil ripping eight feet of
the bow of the vessel completely off. According to Captain Swift, the vessel
does not look like it will be saved.
�The Japanese whalers have now escalated this conflict very violently,� said
Captain Paul Watson. �If they think that our remaining two ships will retreat
from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in the face of their extremism, they
will be mistaken. We now have a real whale war on our hands now and we have no
intention of retreating.�
Captain Paul Watson onboard the Steve Irwin is racing towards the area at 16
knots but still remains some five hundred miles to the north. The Bob Barker has
temporarily stopped the pursuit of the Nisshin Maru to rescue the crew of the
Ady Gil. The Japanese ships initially refused to acknowledge the May Day
distress of the Ady Gil, but ultimately did acknowledge the call. Despite
acknowledging the call, they did not offer to assist the Ady Gil or the Bob
Barker in any way.
The incident took place at 64 Degrees and 03 Minutes South and 143 Degrees and
09 Minutes East
Until this morning the Japanese were completely unaware of the existence of the
Bob Barker. This newest addition to the Sea Shepherd fleet left Mauritius off
the coast of Africa on December 18th and was able to advance along the ice edge
from the West as the Japanese were busy worrying about the advance of the Steve
Irwin from the North.
�This is a substantial loss for our organization,� said Captain Watson. �The Ady
Gil, the former Earthrace, represents a loss of almost two million dollars.
However the loss of a single whale is of more importance to us and we will not
lose the Ady Gil in vain. This blow simply strengthens our resolve, it does not
weaken our spirit.�
Invite your friends to join the whaledefenders!
Namast�
Hans Lak
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http://www.twitter.com/whaledefenders
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100106/ap_on_re_as/as_antarctica_whaling
Boat damaged in anti-whaling clash in Antarctica
By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer Rohan Sullivan, Associated Press
Writer � 19 mins ago
SYDNEY � A conservation group's boat had its bow sheared off and was taking on
water Wednesday after it was struck by a Japanese whaling ship in the frigid
waters of Antarctica, the group said.
The boat's six crew members were safely transferred to another of the Sea
Shepherd Conservation Society's vessels, the newly commissioned Bob Barker. The
boat is named for the American game show host who donated $5 million to buy it.
The clash was the most serious in the past several years, during which the Sea
Shepherd has sent vessels into far-southern waters to try to harass the Japanese
fleet into ceasing its annual whale hunt.
Clashes using hand-thrown stink bombs, ropes meant to tangle propellers and
high-tech sound equipment have been common in recent years, and crashes between
ships have sometimes occurred.
The society said its vessel Ady Gil � a high-tech speedboat that resembles a
stealth bomber � was hit by the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru near Commonwealth
Bay and had about 10 feet (three meters) of its bow knocked off.
Locky Maclean, the first mate of the society's lead ship, said one crewman from
New Zealand appeared to have suffered two cracked ribs, but the others were
uninjured. The crew members were safely transferred to the group's third vessel,
though the Ady Gil's captain remained on board to see what could be salvaged, he
said.
"The original prognostic was that it was sinking, but at this point it is
flooded with water but it seems to still have a bit of buoyancy," Maclean told
The Associated Press by satellite phone from the ship, the Steve Irwin.
The group accused the Japanese ship of deliberately ramming the Ady Gil.
"They were stopped dead in the water when the incident occurred," Maclean said
of the Ady Gil. "When they realized that the Shonan Maru was aiming right for
them, they tried to go into reverse to get the bow out of the way but it was too
late. The Shonan Maru made a course correction and plowed directly into the
front end of the boat."
Glenn Inwood, a New Zealand-based spokesman for the Institute of Cetacean
Research, the Japanese government-linked body that carries out the hunt,
disputed Sea Shepherd's account, saying video shot from the whaler showed the
conservationists' boat moving toward the whaler just before the collision.
"The Shonan Maru steams to port to avoid a collision. I guess they, the Ady Gil,
miscalculated," Inwood told The Associated Press. "Sea Shepherd claims that the
Shonan Maru has rammed the Ady Gil and cut it in half � its claim is just not
vindicated by the video."
Japan's Fisheries Agency said it was still checking details about the clash.
Spokesman Toshinori Uoya said there were no injuries on the Japanese side.
Sea Shepherd sends boats to Antarctic waters each southern summer to try to stop
the Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales under what it calls a scientific
whaling program. Conservationists and many countries say the program is a front
for commercial whaling.
Each side routinely accuses the other of dangerous activity during what has
become a cat-and-mouse chase in one of the world's most remote regions.
Australia and New Zealand � which both have Antarctic territories and are among
the closest nations to the waters where the hunt goes on � have urged both sides
to show restraint, warning that they are far away from rescue if anything goes
wrong.
"Our strongest condemnation applies to any violent or dangerous activity that
takes place in these remote and inhospitable waters," Australian Environment
Minister Peter Garrett said Wednesday. He said he could confirm the collision,
but that details were still unclear.
Wednesday's confrontation with whalers marked the first for the 1,200-ton Bob
Barker, which rescued the crew. Sea Shepherd only recently bought the ship after
its namesake, the former host of the "The Price Is Right" game show and a
longtime animal rights acitvist, donated the money. Barker met Sea Shepherd
founder Paul Watson through a fellow activist and said he was instantly
impressed.
"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if
he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to
do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did."
Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd.
The Ady Gil, meanwhile, clashed earlier Wednesday with another Japanese ship,
the whaling fleet's mothership, the Nisshin Maru.
The Institute of Cetacean Research said the Ady Gil came "within collision
distance" of the Nisshin Maru's bow and repeatedly dangled a rope in the water
that could have entangled the ship's rudder and propeller.
The Ady Gil's crew lobbed small projectiles designed to release a foul smell,
and the whalers responded by firing high-powered hoses to keep the Sea Shepherd
vessels away, the institute said in a statement.
"The obstructionist activities of the Sea Shepherd threaten the lives and
property of those involved in our research, are very dangerous and cannot be
forgiven," it said.
Maclean confirmed the earlier clash.
Japan's whaling fleet left in November for its annual hunt in Antarctic waters.
Uoya said that for security reasons, details of the fleet's composition, the
number of whales it hopes to take and the number of crew members are not being
released to the public.
The Ady Gil is a 78-foot (24-meter) black-painted trimaran made of carbon fiber
and Kevlar in a design meant to pierce waves. It was built to challenge the
record for the quickest circumnavigation of the globe and can travel faster than
46 mph (75 kph).
Sea Shepherd unveiled the Ady Gil last October saying a California millionaire
with the same name had donated most of the money for it. At the time, the group
said the boat would be used to intercept and physically block Japanese harpoon
vessels.
___
Associated Press writers Eric Talmadge in Tokyo, Rod McGuirk in Canberra,
Australia, and Ray Lilley in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this
report.
