This seems to have avoided SD’s sonar, but here’s the story:
A fancy racing boat named Earthrace/Ady Gil was recruited into the Sea Sheperd gang (a reality TV show where anti-whalers try to stop whalers), and yesterday came to a rather callous demise; rammed by a Japanese whaler ‘security’ ship.
Putting aside all the environmental/PR hype, what are the legalities here? Is there any kind of international policing group that can take that security ship’s crew to task? Was this a crime? It took place in fairly frigid south seas, and they continued spraying the crew after the ramming - not even a hint of offering a hand. Surely that fits attempted murder?
(not sure if this is more suited to GQ or GD but because of the fact that this concerns whaling I think GD, mods…)
As a technical matter, can the big whaling ship hit the racing boat if the racing boat does not cooperate? In any case, both masters were massively violating the Rules of the Road. They were both looking for trouble and found it.
Ignoring a distress call at sea ought to be a crime. The whaler master needs to lose his papers.
It appears to me that the Andy Gil moves forward into the path of the Japanese ship. While they collided, I don’t think it’s correct to say that the Japanese ship rammed the Andy Gil.
Must the Japanese ship respond when the Bob Barker is right there, and is part of the same organization as the Andy Gil?
Those Sea Shepherd idiots are going to get someone killed eventually. If they really want to stop Japanese whaling they should spend their efforts trying to change public opinion in Japan - eliminating the market for whale meat would stop the whaling far more effectively than continuously harassing large ships in dangerous waters.
Not only did the Ady Gil cut in front of the bow of the whaling ship it was done deliberately as part of an ongoing attempt to disrupt it. These boats were trying to disable the propellers of the whaling ships which is nothing short of sabotage on the high seas.
Also, the whaler did not continue to spray them after the collision. The rear spray canon was in a fixed position and the damaged boat passed through the arc of the spray,
Given the attempt to damage the ships I think the Japanese Navy should treat them as a hostile force.
The first video looks like the bat boat, if you look at their wake, were continually moving forward, albeit slowly. Just before the collision you could see it speed up as more power was applied. Again look at the wake. Whether they applied power to attempt to turn away, not indicated by their wake, or to ram the larger ship is unknown.
There is little doubt from the second video that the whaling ship was turning towards them. It also looked like it was starting to swing away before it did hit, but the movement of the bat boat didn’t leave it room by accelerating, or they started their turn too late.
Looks like the larger ship violated:
Part B
Section 1
6, 7, and 8
Section 2
13
The smaller boat may have violated:
Part B
Section 2
15
But then the smaller boat was continuing in a straight line so would be considered the Stand-on vessel and would have the right of way.
At least that is my 10 minute research on the internet, I’m not an expert or even a boater, take on the matter. I’m sure all bets are off given the nature of how these two groups regularly interact with each other.
We’re talking about an organization that scuttles whalers, rams other vessels, throws bottles full of chemicals at other ships, and has boarded whaling ships in the past. Given that these people are a very real risk to the safety of your ship if they’re aboard how inclined are you as a whaler to pick them up?
Thought it was kind of a rule of the sea even if an unwritten one. Any sailor knows they may be in the drink someday and would hope someone would pick them up regardless of circumstances. Certainly during war a winning vessel of one navy would attempt to rescue the people who minutes earlier were trying to kill them. Granted the winning navy was not obliged to do so under any circumstances and would leave them if they felt it was too dangerous (e.g. more enemy ships on the way) but usually they would try if they could.
Probably. My “sailing” experience is limited to rivers and lakes in the United States and I can tell you that I’d do what I could to render aid to someone who was in trouble. I would expect the same of other boaters. However it has been my experience that most other boaters don’t engage in hostile activities that include ramming, throwing stuff, and attempting to otherwise disable my boat.
The military has the facilities, the equipment, and presumably the training necessary to take aboard hostile members of an enemy nation. I don’t imagine the whalers are in the same boat as it were.
What video are you watching? The first link kinda seems what you said. However, the second vid unmistakably shows the Japanese ship making a sharp turn into the Ady Gil. I presume the captain, thinking the Japanese ship turning in to him will not allow him to go backwards, decides to try and move forward. The Japanese ship then reverses its turn so forward is no good either and bam.
Personally I am amazed at how quickly a ship as big as the Japanese vessel is was able to turn. Didn’t think it could be that nimble.
I’m sure the Japanese would have picked up the Ady Gil’s crew if it had appeared that the other Sea Shepherd vessel couldn’t have reached it, or if anyone had actually been in the water. It’s kind of silly to condemn them for “failing to come to their aid” based on the videos that end moments after the collision.
While there is certainly hostility between the two the anti-whalers are not military either. I think any ship the size of the Japanese boat would have a brig or the ability to lock someone in their rooms. They certainly have the equipment and ability to pluck people out of the water.
ETA: Not condemning the Japanese for not rescuing them since, as noted, a friendly vessel of theirs was very close by.
Agree with those who view the anti-whaling fanatics on that boat as hostii humani generis - those who’d interfere with the safety of others upon the high seas are truly the common enemies of all mankind. If I know that a ship has publicly stated its intentions to interefere with my ability to operate safely, and that ship then approaches me - I can’t blame the whalers for reacting vigorously.
I doubt they’ve got a dedicated brig but I suppose it’s possible. At any rate if I were captain of the ship I would be responsible for the safety of my crew as well as the property that’s in my care. Members of Sea Shepherd are a threat to both. How many members of my crew should I dedicate to keeping my prisoners under control? Are my crew members trained for this kind of thing? How much force are they allowed to use if the prisoners get out of line?
I’d probably pick them up but they’d be a constant worry.