Sea Shepherd Ship Severely Damaged by Rogue Wave

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http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/12/28/sea-shepherd-ship-severely-damaged-by-rogue-wave-1300

While fighting heavy seas in pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet, the Sea Shepherd scout vessel Brigitte Bardot was struck by a rogue wave that has cracked the hull and severely damaged one of the pontoons on the vessel.

Captain Paul Watson, onboard the Sea Shepherd flagship Steve Irwin, reports that they are fighting heavy seas to reach the position of the Brigitte Bardot some 240 miles to the southeast. It is expected to take twenty hours to reach the damaged vessel.

The Brigitte Bardot is at 51 degrees 42 minutes South and 99 Degrees 21 minutes East, or 1500 miles southwest of Fremantle, Western Australia.

Brigitte Bardot Captain Jonathan Miles Renecle of South Africa was pursuing the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru in six meter swells when the wave slammed into the port side of the vessel cracking the hull. The crack has been getting wider as the seas continue to pound the vessel.

Captain Renecle is confident that the ship will stay afloat until the Steve Irwin arrives. The Brigitte Bardot has a crew of ten: three British, three American, one Australian, one Canadian, one Belgian and one South African.

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1. Update:

Last edited Thu Dec 29, 2011, 05:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Tweeted 3 hours ago:

"CaptPaulWatson Captain Paul Watson
SI escorting damaged Bardot 2 Fremantle.Barker pursuing fleet east.No whales killed.Shonan Maru #2 tailing the SI.No tail on the Barker."

I hope the ship will be repairable re: the ship is being escorted vs. towed.

(edited to add photos)

Before damage with the Steve Irwin:



After damage:

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2. Update: 12/30/11

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/12/30/operation-divine-wind-update-1303

The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot are struggling slowly northward through another storm.

“We are watching the Brigitte Bardot very closely,” said Captain Paul Watson. “The seas are getting rougher and the winds are increasing and there is a great deal of pressure being put on the damaged pontoon of the Brigitte Bardot. It looks like we will have to struggle through these conditions for another 24 hours.”

The crew of the Brigitte Bardot are wearing their survival suits around the clock. A story in the West Australian claiming that Sea Shepherd abandoned the crew of the Brigitte Bardot is false and misleading. The Japanese government security ship Shonan Maru #2 continues to tail the Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot.

The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker continues to pursue the Japanese whaling fleet. It may take two weeks for the Steve Irwin to rejoin the chase, but last season the Bob Barker was successful in shutting down the whaling operations on its own.

“This is not going to be a successful year for the whalers,” said Bob Barker First Officer Peter Hammarstedt of Sweden. “They have never arrived so late before and they have spent more money for security to protect the whalers from Sea Shepherd than they will ever gain this year from profits from whaling. We continue to pursue them as they continue to run eastward to avoid us. We will not let up on them until they leave the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.”

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Go Bob Barker! Wishing them all safety and success!

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3. Update: 1/6/12

The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot arrived in Fremantle Port 12 hours ago. 4 hours ago, the Steve Irwin was refueling and has probably left for the Southern Ocean by now.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3403367.htm

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The Sea Shepherd group says the Brigitte Bardot will be repaired but will not return to the Southern Ocean.

David Weber reports from Fremantle.

DAVID WEBER: The Brigitte Bardot has a severely damaged pontoon and will be repaired at a cost of about $200,000.

Paul Watson says the future success of the operation doesn't rely on the trimaran.

PAUL WATSON: It actually hasn't turned out to be a major setback, because we found the fleet and we're pursuing them. And we're also, the Brigitte Bardot is our scout vessel but we have the added advantage this year of having a drone aircraft that can fly within 300 miles and search out for the fleet and that's how we're keeping tabs on the Nisshin Maru.
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[Guy Montag]

9. It's payday, I'm upping my monthly to the Sea Sheppard cause.

That is an expensive repair, and this is the cause I give too. This and Save Japan Dolphins.

[obamanut2012]

4. Fighting the good fight

Thanks for the updates!

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5. Yes, they are!

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6. Update: 1/8/12

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/01/07/three-australian-prisoners-now-detained-on-a-japanese-whaler-in-australian-waters-1309

Three Australian Prisoners Now Detained on a Japanese Whaler in Australian WatersThree Australian Prisoners Now Detained on a Japanese Whaler in Australian Waters

Early this morning The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society assisted Forest Rescue Australia in a complex and daring move to board the Shonan Maru #2 in waters off Bunbury, Western Australia

Geoffrey Owen Tuxworth (47) of Perth, Simon Peterffy (44) of Bunbury and Glen Pendlebury (27) of Fremantle, all from Forest Rescue came by boat from shore to intercept the Japanese vessel the Shonan Maru #2 which was tailing the Sea Shepherd ship the Steve Irwin 16.2 miles off the coast and 22 miles Northwest of Bunbury, Western Australia. The Shonan Maru's position when boarded was 32 degrees, zero minutes south and 115 degrees, 21 minutes east. They were met by two small boats from the Steve Irwin. The boats approached the Shonan Maru under the cover of darkness and the three negotiated their way past the razor wire and spikes and over the rails to sucessfuly board the Japanese whaling vessel.

They came with a message. “Return us to shore in Australia and then remove yourself from our waters.”

At the present time, three Australian citizens are being held as prisoners onboard the Japanese vessel the Shonan Maru #2. They are being held in the twenty-four mile contiguous zone of Australia by an invading Japanese vessel containing armed Japanese military personnel.

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Statement from Forest Rescue at link.

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7. Japan to hand activists to Australian authorities

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-10/japan-to-hand-activists-to-australian-authorities/3764806?WT.mc_id=newsmail

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There were fears the trio would be taken to Japan and tried for trespassing.

But after much diplomatic wrangling between Canberra and Tokyo, Japan has decided the men will not be charged and will be handed over to Australian authorities.

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Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed the Japanese government has agreed to return the three Australians.

Ms Gillard says the Government thanks Japan for its cooperation.

She says the Government has sent a customs vessel to meet the ship and take the trio back to Australia, but the journey is expected to take several days subject to weather conditions.
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[Guy Montag]

8. Oh no!!!!

I hope they get repairs done and get underway quickly. There is no excuse anytime to murder an intelligent mind in the water like the vicious Japanese do.

Earth First!