Whaling ship slams activists

2006-01-08 13:13

Sydney - A Japanese whaling ship collided with a Greenpeace boat in Antarctic waters on Sunday.

Greenpeace expedition leader Shane Rattenbury said his ship, the Arctic Sunrise, was carrying 25 people when it was rammed by the Nisshin Maru, a factory ship belonging to a Japanese whaling fleet.

He said the collision was "deliberate".

According to Greenpeace, the whaling crew ship were watching activists onboard inflatable rafts shortly before the collision occurred.

Greenpeace activists were painting the words "whale meat sanctuary" on the side of the Japanese supply vessel.

Rattenbury said: "At the time, we were over a kilometre from the Nisshin Maru.

"There were no other vessels in the area and there was no reason to head towards us - the Arctic Sunrise was virtually stopped at the time."

The Arctic Sunrise has been chasing Japan's whaling fleet in Antarctic waters for almost two weeks, hampering the hunt for 850 minke whales and 10 fin whales as part of Japan's scientific research programme.

The research whaling is permitted under the rules of the International Whaling Commission, but Australia and other anti-whaling countries say it is really commercial whaling in disguise.

The ships sell the whale meat in Japan.

- AP