Ross Sea, Southern Ocean. The MY Esperanza in the foreground of the disabled Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru, a re-fuelling vessel and a hunter vessel tied alongside it. Fire broke out on the Nisshin Maru last Thursday and one man is still missing.The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is there to offer to assist the whaling fleet including possibly towing her out of the Southern Ocean.
Onboard the Esperanza
in the Southern Ocean - campaigning against illegal whaling - we
find ourselves in an unexpected situation. The vessel we had been
searching for - the Japanese factory whaling ship Nisshin Maru - issued a
distress call after a serious fire broke out on board.
The Esperanza is now
less than a day's sailing from the disabled whaling ship. We've
made a commitment to the fleet to assist the crew in any way
possible, and make an environmental impact assessment if needed.
One crew member of the Nisshin Maru is still missing, and it's reported
that the ship could be carrying approximately 1,000 tons of oil and
sitting 100 nautical miles from the largest Adelie penguin colony
in the world.
The Fisheries Agency of Japan has already refused help from
Greenpeace. However, the Esperanza is continuing on its course to the
stricken vessel.
"Our first thoughts are for the missing crewman and the rest of
the people on board. This is not a time to play politics from
behind a desk in Tokyo," said Karli Thomas, expedition leader on
board the Esperanza. "This is a human tragedy and a potential
environmental disaster. We have a moral obligation to act and there
is a legal obligation under the Antarctic treaty for the Nisshin
Maru's owners to accept our help."
Greenpeace has offered to tow the whaling factory ship out of
the pristine Antarctic environment of the Southern Ocean Whale
Sanctuary. The Esperanza's captain, Frank Kamp, had ten years
experience working on salvage vessels before joining Greenpeace.
Another vessel may be required to tow the 8,000-ton Nisshin Maru beyond Antarctic
waters through the stormy "Roaring Forties" weather, though we'll
be making every effort to take the Nisshin Maru all the way into port.
"While we recognise the humanitarian and environmental need to
assist the Nisshin Maru,
we are not in the business of salvaging a whaling ship in order for
it to start whaling again next season," added Thomas. "This tragedy
should mark the end of this terrible business and the government
funding should be invested not in a new or repaired ship, but in
something that the Japanese people can truly benefit from."
As of this writing, the Esperanza will arrive at the Nisshin Maru's location in a
matter of hours. You can stay updated on this story via the
Greenpeace Ocean Defenders
Weblog direct from the ship, and see what the Esperanza sees
via the
live webcam.
The accident comes on the heels of a
meeting in Japan aimed at reintroducing commercial whaling.
Almost without exception, pro-conservation members of the
International Whaling Commission boycotted the meeting.
Live updates from the Esperanza weblog
All the latest from our ship in the Southern Ocean and our political team around the world.
Live webcam
See what the Esperanza sees with our live webcam from the bow of the ship.