MV Shōnan Maru 2
| File:Shonan Maru.svg | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | MV Shōnan Maru 2 |
| Owner: | Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha |
| Operator: | Institute of Cetacean Research |
| Port of registry: | Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. |
| Builder: | Hitachi Shipbuilding, Osaka |
| Launched: | 1972 |
| Identification: |
IMO Number: 7225166 |
| Status: | Active: Southern Ocean and Antarctic Ocean |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fisheries |
| Tonnage: |
491 |
| Length: | 52.3 metres (172 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.6 metres (28.2 ft) |
| Draft: | 3.4 metres (11.2 ft) |
| Decks: | 80 square metres |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Diesel 1100BHP |
| Speed: | 12 knots |
| Crew: | 9[1][2] |
The Shōnan Maru 2 (第二昭南丸 Daini Shōnan Maru) is a Japanese whaling ship. It participates in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Ocean whale research programme that is carried out by the Institute of Cetacean Research. It is a harpoon vessel, though it is usually described as being used as providing support and security to the Japanese whaling fleet rather than participating in the whaling itself.
Contents
Sister ships
The Shonan Maru 2 has a sister ship, the Shonan Maru.[citation needed]
Altercations with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
In late 2009, the Shōnan Maru 2 intercepted and pursued the MY Steve Irwin, being shown with a water cannon mounted on the bow in place of a harpoon. The ship trailed the Steve Irwin from a distance before closing in and engaging the Sea Shepherd vessel with water cannons and an LRAD. The actions of the Shōnan Maru 2's crew, believed to be too aggressive for normal whalers, led members of Sea Shepherd to speculate that the vessel was being crewed by paramilitary personnel.[citation needed]
On January 6, 2010 the vessel was involved in a collision at sea with the MY Ady Gil which was participating in Sea Shepherd operations against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Out of the crew of six from the Ady Gil, one New Zealand cameraman sustained broken ribs.[3][4] The Ady Gil sank soon after.[5] The third vessel at location, Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker, and the Shonan Maru 2, took footage of the incident.[6] Video of the incident has been released by both Institute of Cetacean Research and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Both sides blamed each other, each stating that the other side miscalculated a manoeuvre.[4] The New Zealand government expressed concern at the risk of human lives in the hostile environment, and also repeated its opposition to whaling in the Sanctuary. A spokesman for the Institute said that Japan would continue to protect their operations "in whatever way it can" and that further clashes would be likely unless Sea Shepherd stopped its operations.[4]
On January 9, 2010, Sea Shepherd lodged a piracy complaint against the captain and the crew of the Shōnan Maru 2 in the Dutch courts.[7]
An investigation into the collision by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was inconclusive and unable to assign blame for the collision. AMSA was unable to verify claims made by Sea Shepherd, while the Japanese government declined to participate with the investigation saying any information it had might be needed for an inquiry by its own authorities.[8]
On February 15, 2010, Peter Bethune, a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, boarded Shonan Maru 2 without permission. He reportedly used a jet ski to approach the ship then climbed onto its deck after cutting through an anti-boarding net that was draped around the hull. He presented the captain of the whaler with a claim for $3 million for damages that the Ady Gil had suffered. He was transported to Tokyo where the Japanese coast guard charged him with vessel invasion.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ "Shonan Maru 2". Researchvessels.org. http://www.researchvessels.org/country/Japan/shonan_maru_2.html. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Vessel information SHONAN MARU NO 2 from Japan". Digitalseas.com. http://www.digital-seas.com/vessel_search/vessel_details/on/jfcf_shonan_maru_no_2_q2012574.html. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- ↑ ANDREW DARBY (January 6, 2010). "Japanese ship destroys whale protest boat Ady Gil". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japanese-ship-sinks-whale-protest-boat--ady-gill-20100106-ltp4.html. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Govt calls for restraint after ocean clash - The New Zealand Herald, January 7, 2010
- ↑ "Ady Gil sinks after collision". The Age. January 8, 2010. http://www.theage.com.au/national/ady-gil-sinks-after-collision-20100108-lxlh.html. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ↑ Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (January 5, 2010). "Japanese Whalers Ram Sea Shepherd Ship Ady Gil". Press release. http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-100105-4.html. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Conservationists File Piracy Claim Against Whalers". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/09/world/AP-AS-Antarctica-Whaling.html?_r=2. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ↑ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/inquiry-into-ady-gil-crash-inconclusive-20100508-ukx4.html
- ↑ Fackler, Martin; McDonald, Mark (2010-03-12). "Japanese Coast Guard Arrests Anti-Whaling Skipper". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/world/asia/13whale.html. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
External links
- "SHONAN MARU No 1 and No 2.". http://www.newzeal.com/theme/Ships/Shonan/Shonanphotos.htm. Retrieved January 10, 2010. (Images of the Shonan Maru 1 and 2)
- YouTube videos of the collision with Ady Gil
- "Collision of Sea Shepherd's Adi Gil and Japanese whaling boat". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH_5wEWaqe8. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
- "Ady Gil Being Rammed, View From Bob Barker". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rar9zxH1kts. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
- "Footage from the Ady Gil, right before its ramming by the Shonan Maru No. 2". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfGM-LzGKjc. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
