Sea Shepherd Ady Gil vs. Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2

Something interesting regarding the collision that took place Wednesday between the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Ady Gil and the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 is the impression of fault that might be reached by watching two videos posted on YouTube.

One filmed from Bob Barker, another Sea Shepherd ship that was in the vicinity, seems to give the sense that Shonan Maru 2 deliberately turned starboard and collided with Ady Gil, which accelerates in what may have been a late attempt to get out of the way of the larger vessel.

The video from the vantage point onboard Shonan Maru 2, however, presents an entirely different viewpoint. In it, it appears as if Ady Gil accelerates directly into the side of the whaling vessel, causing the damage that destroyed the trimaran, which sank into the frigid water of the Southern Ocean yesterday.

The conservationist group is trying to disrupt the annual whale hunt conducted by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research, which Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson claims is illegal and is conducted under the guise of research to take advantage of a loophole in the wording of an international moratorium on whaling.

I would have embedded or linked to both videos, but, sorry to say, one is profanity-laced and the other is in Japanese so I don't know if they kept their language clean or not.

The subject is certainly divisive, as evidenced by the 150-plus comments that Outposts received thus far on an earlier post.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: The Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 fires high-powered hoses at Sea Shepherd's Ady Gil Wednesday in the frigid waters of Antarctica prior to the Ady Gil getting its bow sheared off. Credit: JoAnne McArthur / Sea Shepherd Conservation Society / Associated Press

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Comments

[robs]

The sea Shepherd vessel the Ady Gil had no chance to escape from the shonan maru 2 and even though one crew member told the other crew to shut off the water cannons that doesn’t mean that the captain is off the hook for the multimillion dollar ship he sunk GO SEA SHEPHERD!

[bec]

SamG said:
" If they were indeed out of fuel, then how about using the radio to let the captain of the Shonan Maru 2 know this fact? They very well know that yelling at the ship will do nothing so using that as an excuse is useless. "
I don't see what any of that has to do with the fact that they were out of fuel on a 1 ton ship and a 16 ton whaling vessel changed course and hit them dead on the nose of their ship. If you were in a parked car in an empty parking lot, Sam, and I changed course driving my tractor trailer from the other side of the empty parking lot straight into your car - would you also say it was your fault that I hit you - because you didn't signal to me that you were unable to move out of my way?

[SamG]

"It's 80 tons against 1,000 tons. It's just not a fair fight." Then don't put your tiny boat anywhere near the whaler ships. Don't use it as a barrier and then complain about the consequences of your actions. They know full well that their vessel stands no chance against the larger ship so they should know better as ship captain. If they were indeed out of fuel, then how about using the radio to let the captain of the Shonan Maru 2 know this fact? They very well know that yelling at the ship will do nothing so using that as an excuse is useless. They have a communications device. Use it. Real simple.
And aren't the Whale Wars crew also taking advantage of a legal loophole so that they can conduct these misguided missions of clear use of intimidation and projectile tactics?

[bec]

For those of you who obviously don't know the full facts - the reason that the Ady Gil did not evade was because it didn't have any fuel left. It was dead in the water after a lengthy chase of the "Factory Ship", the Nisshin Maru, in which it expended the very last of the Ady Gil's fuel. Therefore, the Ady Gil was not able to maneuver itself in front of the nearby Shonen Maru.

Other video from the Bob Barker clearly shows the Shonen Maru altering course and heading straight for the Ady Gil. That any thinking human without an agenda would possibly concur that the Ady Gil (a 1 ton ship that was out of fuel and dead in the water) was at fault when a 16 ton whaling vessel struck it is absurd.

Know the facts before you post.

[Keri]

I wacthed whale wars and it is apparent that the ady gil was the victim in this situation. I just hope they had insurance for the expensice vessel

[marshun tolbert]

i think that they crash in to the sea sheperds me in my organiztion will donate one million

[Paul Watson Lover]

I am a personal fan of Paul Watson. Not only is he a hero but a very handsome one at that. What a nice combo. Usually only seen in disney movies. I think Paul Watson does not get enough publicity or recognitian. I am sure there are lines of people wanting to donate to the next ship. I think there should be a contest of ideas of names for the new ship. Something powerful. Something that when you say the name in the end it spells " DEFEAT " . Allowing people who are passionate about this issue will have a chance at putting a name on it. In defense of Andy Gil It doesn't seem like he used 20/20 as a claim to fame. First of all these sites are not for wealthy men in search of poor women to date. It could be wealthy women who want to date men on the same financial level as them, and women are looking for younger men these days. I thought that put him in a bad light light, just looking for "poor women to date". I am very impressed that he donated a couple million towards the boat for Sea Shepherd. I know it is hard for anyone in these times to come up with even a couple million these days. Anyway, paul I heard you are taken by a lovely woman. That's great you deserve it. Lucky Lady.... Good Luck

[Hollywood Insider]

I often wondered myself why a boat with such eyecatching quality would be called The Ady Gil. After reviewing one of the proceding comments it quickly became obvious. The name did not do such a vessel justice. It seems as though the vessel itself was used as though the person wanted his name out there. As for even agreeing to be on 20/20 for such a subject as arranged sex, I think there are motives all over the map. In the end he was doing for a good cause. Maybe if a second boat is built he can parther up with someone else to help donate. Although the ship was striking, my opinion is that it could have been a little bigger to accomodate the crew, which 2 million would hardley touch. It's probably going to take more of a team of people to get it close to perfect, but as long as Paul Watson is our man, he can come out in the SS Minow ang get cheers from me. Keep up the good work Paul. You are the star of the show.

[James]

I hate the Japanese Whalers. They use Research as an exuse to kill innocent whales. How the heck can Research mean harpooning a baby whale and mother. The Japanese Whalers should be Harpooned.

[Dave Head]

Sometimes when reading comments I wonder if I actuaaly watched the same videos as others. What I saw was a stationary boat[ Ady Gil] being rammed by the Japanese boat. Sure the Ady Gil should not have stopped, but i heard the skipper say they needed to conserve fuel.
It's also strange that those who disagree with the SSCS trying to save whales also don't blame the Japanese for the collision.
Japan's continued and expanded program of scientific whaling is inconsistent with its obligations under the Law of the Sea Convention, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling Convention, the Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), and the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect and preserve the marine environment, to protect rare and fragile ecosystems and endangered species,to prepare environmental impact assessments when changes to the marine
environment are likely to be caused by its activities, and to refrain from claiming resources under the guise of marine scientific research. This program is not legitimately "scientific" because it has not been
peer-reviewed and does not have precise quantifiable goals. It is inconsistent with Japan's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity because reduces the sustainability of whale species and has "adverse impacts on biological diversity." It is unquestionably an abuse of
right because it invokes Article VIII of the Whaling Convention in a manner that certainly was unanticipated by the framers of the Convention and has been repeatedly condemned by the majority of the other contracting parties
to the Convention.

[Enola Gay]

I'm sure these brave heroic whale hunters sit around when they get back to Japan and carry on about how brave they are with their high tech weapons and ships as they are harrassed by terrorists. It really makes me laugh.

[Enola Gay]

Japan kills over 1,000 whales and 24,000 dolphins every year. They are driving the overfishing of bluefin tuna. It's just a resource to them and when its gone they'll move on to the next one.

Sea Shepherd is doing important, urgent work.

Do some reading and look at what is going on with the IWC. While most countries want to turn it into a conservation organization to deal with real threats like sonar, ship strikes, decreasing food supply, plastic and chemical pollution, etc. Japan is going everything it can to overturn the ban on commercial whaling. They have bought countries votes by paying their IWC dues and providing money so they will join the IWC and vote with Japan.

[john hanks]

has anyone thought about the possibility that the andy gil was sunk on porpose for the insurance money? it was a one purpose built vessel that already served it"s purpose . the owner , who was also the captain at the time of collision tried unsuccessfuly to sell that boat for a couple of years. he who is also a funds and grant solicitor like paul watson may have just put thier heads together and came up with a sale . this stinks of insurance fraud from here to bloody new zealand

[VG2009]

I was wondering why Shonan Maru turned starboard instead of port.
Finally I found the answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhkyDFSBbo8

[Guy]

It's pretty funny that some of these comments appear to have very awkward english resembling a japanese vocabulary even spouting the maritime laws that relate to this sort of incident?
The video clearly shows the Shonan Maru2 on one course that would clear the Ady Gil to its right and then suddenly veering to the right and collecting the Ady Gil amidships! The video from the Japanese ship shows that the captain of the Ady Gil made a last second attempt to get out of the way. What would you do if a freight train was boring down on you. The crew said that they were giving up for the day as they needed to refuel. The Shonan Maru 2s crew must have thought they were an easy target just sitting there and obviously took the shot and scored but they shot themselves in the foot. I'm donating to Sea Shepherd right now and like you americans when the French were the bad guys a few years back some knucle head decided to call "French Fries", "American Fries" So for any Japanese producers reading I'm boycotting Japanese goods and produce. It might be an idea to annoy any Japanese tourists too!

[Kujira Oishi]

Ady Gil crew shot a bowgun arrow at Shonan-Maru2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q3wQ0Ux8TI#t=1m16s

[Jack Long]

There are clear rules that all commanders of any sea vessel must adhere too. There are several that pertain directly to the anti-collision of seacraft. Chapter 3, part B, section II, item 15, pertains to two powered vessels in a crossing situation.

The Ady Gil clearly placed herself Starboard to the Shonan Maru and she made no attempt to avoid collision. It looks to me, that since the Shonan Maru, was clearly in a defensive posture, since her water cannons were in use, that the Captain of the Ady Gil was active pursuit along the starboard side. It is clear that the Ady Gil captain was trying to overtake the Shonan Maru.

According to the rules of the sea, this is a clear violation as found in Chapter 3, part B, section II, item 13. The captain of the Ady Gil made no attempt to avoid collision, and if he did, he surely display incompetence in not know his Port from Starboard.

http://www.answers.com/topic/international-regulations-for-preventing-collisions-at-sea#Section_II_.28for_vessels_in_sight_of_one_another.29

Also the Ady Gil is deliberatly painted with a scull and crossbones on her hull.

I find it humorous that the Pirates are now crying foul when they have made so many illegal attacks and attempted boarding that it cannot be counted.

[Sea Shepherd Watch]

Speaking of the "Ady Gil", have you ever wondered about the man it's named after?

Aside of fronting the money for Sea Shepherd to buy the former "Earthrace", his other claim to fame is as a promoter of a "sugar daddy" website which connects older wealthy men with younger poorer women.

Strange but true. There's video of him on ABC's 20/20 talking it up here:

http://seashepherdwatch.org/2009/12/ady-gil-the-man/

What does it say about Sea Shepherd that it would name one of its boats after someone like Ady Gil?

[Pierre in Canada]

That's a really good video to watch. I have no opinion about the whale hunt whatsoever, but when you put yourself in harm's way, don't come crying if you get hurt!

The goal of the Sea Shepherd is to disrupt or stop the whale hunt by any mean necessary (go see their web site). Their captain has been quoted in saying that he wouldn't care at all if people died in the process, as whales are more important to him than human.

How can I respect someone like that? Not saying whale hunting is good or bad, but killing people is always bad. No amount of rhetoric will change that fact. So in the future, if they don't want to have their rich kid's toys damaged, they should stay out of the way of larger, less manoeuvrable vessels.

Now, I can just imagine all the comments from hippies and various tree/whale huggers my posting will generate... Spare me, I've heard them all (I live in Vancouver, home of GreenPeace).

[Shaun]

If you are wondering what the cameraman on the Shonan Maru 2 is trying to yell over the collision alarm and LRAD firing is something akin to "Turn off the water cannons, turn off the water!"

[Jess]

Let me get this straight. The Andy Gil is a streamlined, Batmobile looking vessel built for speed and the Shonan Moru 2 is a huge, lumbering whaling ship, correct? And a collision occurred between the two in which the much smaller, much faster boat was clipped in front? And some people can't figure out who was to blame? Okaaaaaayyyy...

Last time I checked the open ocean wasn't a cramped, two lane highway where boats pass within feet of eachother on the regular. There's plenty of room(miles and miles)to avoid potential collisions. Why was the smaller boat even anywhere remotely close to the huge ship's pathway? That's like trying to dodge trains in a honda! You can't go from aggressor to victim in a heartbeat and expect any sympathy!! Yes, they're fighting a noble cause, but you some common f'n sense! Geez..

[confucius]

I tried to be fair and looked at both videos from youtube. From the Bob Barker video, it looks like the research ship was at fault. From the researcher video, it looks like the bat-mobile was at fault. Hmmm..... I wonder if everyone looked at both video before they start blaming each other....

[Fred]

Kelly, are there any more pictures and videos of the Ady Gil sinking from the Sea Shepherd?

The last photo shows the trimaran was still on the water.

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/sea-shepherd-news.html

Then the Institute of Cetacean Research`s photos indicate the Ady Gil drifting.

http://www.icrwhale.org/gpandsea-img.htm

[TJ]

Saw the new video. It seems the crews of the Ady Gil were the ones to be blamed - they are apparently ignoring the risk of collision and safety of themselves. Further, I don't see any 'sharp turn towards the Ady Gil' in this video... Well, one thing is clear from the video. It was not intentional ramming from the Ady Gil.

I don't personally like whaling but what are the Sea Shepherd doing? They left the Ady Gil at the scene, leaking oil and fuel. I doubt if they truly care about the ocean.

[Norbert]

New video from aboard the Ady Gil documenting the last minute before the collision occured:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CofJkRr2IZM

No doubt left, who is responsible and should be sued.