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9 January
2000
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
First
Photos In!
(Click
on the image for enlargement
and be sure to check our gallery for fresh photos)
The
crew of the Greenpeace inflatable place a stream of water directly in
front of the Toshi-maru's harpoon.
18:40 - The
Japanese whaling fleet, attempting to distance itself from the M/V Arctic
Sunrise, is steaming northeast. Our inflatables have returned to the ship
in order to allow the Sunrise to follow the Japanese whalers.
18:00 - The
crew of the Toshi-maru have apparently been stymied by this latest Greenpeace
tactic. The ship is circling and the Kyo-maru, (another catcher) has arrived
on the scene. This means that Greenpeace currently has two Japanese ships
diverted from their illegal whale hunt.
17:30 - The
African Queen is in front of the Toshi-maru which is trying to spot whales.
Using a new, non-violent technique the crew have mounted a water pump
onto the back of the inflatable. The pump sprays vertically and creates
a wall of water eight meters high that hinders visibility for the crew
members of the Toshi-maru. This makes it almost impossible for the crew
to spot and hunt whales.
17:15
- The crew of the M/V Arctic Sunrise has launched a second inflatable,
"the African Queen."
The crew on the
African Queen are:
Curtis, Aaron, and Richard (all Australians)
17:00- The
M/V Arctic Sunrise has launched the inflatable "Hurricane" to
pursue a whale "catcher" and prevent it from hunting.
The
crew on the Hurricane are:
Slava (Russia), Debs (Australia), John (United Kingdom), Hans (Netherlands),
and Nick (Australia)
15:30
- After a day of cat and mouse, in which the Japanese fleet tried, once
again, to escape Greenpeace scrutiny, the M/V Arctic Sunrise picked up
the Japanese ships on its radar.
8
January 2000
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
17:00
- First Photos in!
(click on image for larger photo)
Greenpeace activists attempt to
prevent the transfer of an illegally-hunted
minke whale onto the deck of the Nisshin-maru. The factory ship carries
a crew of 112 and butchers the whales caught by the catcher ships in five
vessel fleet.
13:20
- All crew is back onboard the M/V Arctic Sunrise which is closely following
the Nisshin-maru. The crew is warming up, drying off, and preparing to
engage the Japanese whaling fleet again this afternoon.
11:50
- Three inflatables remain in the water and have tried to prevent the
catcher ship Toshi-maru from transferring its catch to the factory ship
Nisshin-maru. All three Japanese ships, (the Nisshin-maru, the Toshi-maru,
and the Yushin-maru), boxed the inflatables in and trained high pressure
hoses on the activists in an effort to deter them.
The crew
members are:
the Hurricane
- Daniel (Argentina) Jaume (Spain) Andrew (United States)
the African Queen (formerly the Gray Whale) - Zeger and Frank (both
from the Netherlands) and Richard and Nicolas (Australia)
Wally - Deb (Australia) and David (Netherlands)
(you'll find more background on all the crew members by visiting our ships
and crew section)
11:20
- The Yushin-maru has been successful in its attempt to transfer its catch
to the Japanese factory ship. The M/V Arctic Sunrise has deployed additional
inflatables and remains ready to make another attempt at intervening.
10:25
- The 'catcher' ship, now positively identified as the Yushin-maru, appears
ready to transfer a hunted whale to factory ship. The crew of the M/V
Arctic Sunrise has placed two inflatables into the Antarctic waters in
order to non-violently prevent the transfer from taking place.
09:45 - The
M/V Arctic Sunrise has positioned itself between the Japanese factory
ship, Nisshin-maru and one of the 'catcher' boats. All ships are steaming
forward at roughly eleven knots. The crew of the Sunrise is monitoring
the whaling fleet.
08:00
- Flat seas and the Japanese whaling fleet is in sight! The M/V Arctic
Sunrise has been tracking the whaling ships on radar since last night
and established visual contact this morning. The Sunrise is steaming toward
the fleet and preparing to take action to stop Japan's illegal whaling.
7 January 2000
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
08:45 - Rough seas and
poor visibility during the early days of 2000 have hampered the M/V Arctic
Sunrise's ability to track Japan's illegal whaling operations in the Southern
Ocean. However, the ship continues to pursue the whaling fleet. Check
back soon.
30
December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
13:45 - The
Japanese whaling fleet has begun steaming toward the Northwest in an attempt
to evade further Greenpeace scrutiny of its illegal whaling activities.
The Greenpeace inflatable has returned to the M/V Arctic Sunrise. The
Sunrise will continue to track the whalers.
11:48 - The
Greenpeace inflatable is now engaging the Yushin-maru. The goal is to
prevent the Yushin-maru from killing any whales today.
11:42 - The crew on the
Greenpeace inflatable are:
David (Dutch), Marijke (Dutch),
and Slava (Russian)
11:40 - After observing
two catcher ships, the Yushin-maru and the Toshi-maru, roughly a mile
off the bow of the M/V Arctic Sunrise. The Greenpeace crew has launched
an inflatable into the water.
11:00 - The weather in the
Southern Ocean is worsening, however, the M/V Arctic Sunrise is in close
proximity to the Nisshin-maru and waiting for the return of the fleet's
'catcher' ships.
29
December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
18:15
- First Photos In!
The
Greenpeace inflatable "Hurricane" in front of the Japanese Whaler
Kyo-maru. Today's non-violent direct action prevented two "catcher"
ships from hunting whales for almost five hours. All inflatables have
now returned to the M/V Arctic Sunrise.
17:05
- The Hurricane inflatable remains in front of the Toshi-maru preventing
it from hunting whales.
16:15 - Greenpeace
inflatables are still in the water attempting to interfere with the Japanese
fleet's illegal whaling program. So far they have prevented two ships
from hunting whales for over 4 hours.
14:38 - The
"Hurricane is returning to relieve the inflatable "Gray Whale"
in front of the Toshi-maru. The new crew on the Hurricane are:
Curtis (Australian),
Martin (English), and Milko (Argentinian)
14:00 - The
Greenpeace inflatable "Hurricane" has returned to the M/V Arctic
Sunrise to refuel. The crew on the Hurricane were:
Daniel (Argentinian), Cris (Brazillian),
and Klas (Dutch)
13:20 - Greenpeace
activists have identified the second whale 'catcher' ship as the Toshi-maru.
13:00 - The
M/V Arctic Sunrise has clarified: the Greenpeace activists were protecting
a whale and its calf from the harpoon of the Kyo-maru.
12:50 - Greenpeace
activists have positioned an inflatable between the Kyo-maru's harpoon
and a whale and have thus managed to prevent the ship's crew from harming
the animal.
12:20
- The crew of the M/V Arctic Sunrise has deployed four inflatables into
the water to prevent further illegal whaling activities by the Japanese
fleet. The inflatables have been split into two teams - each heading for
a Japanese 'catcher' ship.
11:30 - After lying in wait,
the M/V Arctic Sunrise has picked up the Japanese whaling fleet on its
radar. The fleet is approximately 15 miles off and heading in the direction
of the Sunrise.
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25
December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
11:30 -
The Nisshin-maru has radioed a statement to the M/V
Arctic Sunrise however Japanese repeatedly refuses to receive a message
from the Greenpeace ship. Therefore the M/V will not translate the letter.
11 25 - Both the Kyo-maru
1 and Yushin-maru have successfully transfered their catch and are now
heading out to the resume the hunt. The Greenpeace Inflatables are returning
to the M/V Arctic Sunrise.
11:15
- Greenpeace Activist Frank Kamp is now in the water near the catcher
ship Kyo-maru and is holding onto a whale in an attempt to prevent the
mammal from being transfered onto the Nisshin-maru.
11:05 - Despite best efforts
by the Greenpeacers, the crew of the Yushin-maru have successfully transfered
their catch onto the Nisshin-maru.
10:55
- All three Japanese whaling boats are using fire hoses against the Greenpeace
activists in the inflatables.
10:53 - The
Nisshin-maru is broadcasting a message through loadspeakers informing
the Greenpeace activists to "stay 2 miles away" or whalers will
"water" the activists. International maritime law does not allow
vessels to establish exclusion zones on high seas.
10:50
- Two "catcher" boats, the Kyo-maru 1 and the Yushin-maru are
attempting to transfer harpooned whales to the factory ship Nisshin-maru.
Greenpeace activists are attempting to interfere with the transfer by
placing their inflatables between the factory ship and the catchers.
10:24
- The M/V Arctic Sunrise has deployed two inflatables into the water.
The crew on the inflatables
are:
- The Hurricane - David
De Jong (Dutch), Jaume Espina (Spainish), John Cunningham (Scotsman),
and Adam Campbell (Australian).
- The Gray Whale - Richard
Pearson (Australian), Zeger Zel (Dutch), and Frank Kamp (Dutch).
(You
can find out more about the crew members in the Ship
and Crew section of this site.)
09:30 - The M/V Arctic Sunrise
is closely following the Japanese whaling fleet and its crew are preparing
to take action to prevent illegal whaling.
24 December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Greenpeace
International has sent a letter to the Institute
for Cetacean Research protesting the dangerous activities of the Japanese
whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. The Institute for Cetacean Research
is a non-governmental organization heavily subsidized by the Japanese
government and oversees the illegal whaling activities of the fleet.
23 December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
16:00 - The M/V Arctic Sunrise
is now within three miles of the Japanese whaling fleet but the fickle
Anarctic weather has turned sour. Visibility is pour and conditions are
worsening.
13:00 - The Arctic Sunrise
is sailing toward the Japanese whaling fleet which is roughly 18 miles
off the bow of the ship. Crew members are preparing for further actions.
22 December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
15:45 -
Scientists from the Sunrise use an inflatable to visit the pod of four
humpbacks and conduct acoustic studies using a hydrophone.
15:30 -
M/V Arctic Sunrise spots a pod of humpback whales.
4:40 - The
M/V Arctic Sunrise is now pursuing the Nisshin-maru which remains within
radar range.
14:25 -
Greenpeace inflatables have been near the Toshi-maru for almost 4 hours
and are now returning to the M/V Arctic Sunrise. The Toshi-maru has not
been hunting whales during this time and its harpoon remains covered.
The crew are satisfied that they have been able to prevent at least one
whaler from catching whales today. The rest of the Japanese whaling fleet
is in the area.
12:05 -
The M/V Arctic Sunrise has reported that the crew of the Toshi-maru have
temporarily abandoned their hunt and covered their harpoon.
12:00
- The inflatable crew has identified the catcher ship as the Toshi-maru
No.25.
11:25 -
The inflatable, driven by Deb in a "Santa Claus" costume, is
positioned directly in front of the catcher ship to prevent the whale
from hunting whales. Santa attempted to deliver the M/V Arctic Sunrise
Christmas message to the whalers urging them to stop their illegal whaling
but the whalers threw the message overboard.
10:00
- The M/V Arctic Sunrise has visual contact with an unidentified 'catcher'
ship sailing four miles off the bow. The Nisshin-maru is on the ship's
radar at 6.7 miles away. The Sunrise crew are preparing to deploy inflatables.
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21
December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
17:30 - M/V Arctic Sunrise
is steaming 2 miles behind the Nisshin-maru. 3 whale catchers are visible
on the ship radar. On-board campaigner John Bowler reports that crew is
taking stock and doing some repair work, but there does not appear to
be serious damage to the ship.
14:30 - M/V Arctic Sunrise
reports that all crew are safe and uninjured.
14:24 - M/V Arctic Sunrise
calls its inflatables back to the ship to inspect for damage.
14:20
- The Nisshin-maru has rammed the M/V Arctic Sunrise. Sunrise captain
Arne Sorensen confirmed that the Nisshin-maru rammed the Greenpeace ship
while the Nisshin-maru was making an illegal overtaking maneouvre. It
hit the Sunrise on the portside near the bow.
13:30 - The
Greenpeace inflatables are in position near the stern of the Nisshin-maru.
13:10 - Two Greenpeace inflatables
are in the water and heading toward the stern of the Nisshin-maru.
12:55
- The M/V Arctic Sunrise is now within 1/4 mile of the Nisshin-maru. Sunrise
crew members have been preparing the ship inflatables for launch.
09:30
- M/V Arctic Sunrise has gained visual contact with the Nisshin-maru.
The ships are roughly 6 miles apart. The Sunrise also has spotted an unidentified
Japanese whale 'catcher' ship on its radar almost 10 miles away. The Sunrise
has begun steaming toward the Nisshin-maru.
08:40 - M/V Arctic Sunrise
has position of Nisshin-maru on its radar.
08:30
- M/V Arctic Sunrise crew enjoying a well deserved late wake-up call.
Water temperature is just under 0 degrees Centigrade. Sea is fairly calm
and some blue skies are visible.
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20
December 1999
All times are local to the M/V Arctic Sunrise
which is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
14:30
- The M/V Arctic Sunrise continues to monitor the Japanese whaling
fleet. On land, we're waiting for photographs which are being transmitted
via satellite. We'll post the photographs on this page as soon as
they are available.
11:50
- The weather is growing increasingly hazardous. Snow and mist are
picking up. Frank and the crew of the inflatable "Hurricane"
are returning to the M/V Arctic Sunrise. They have successfully disrupted
the illegal Japanese whaling operation for several hours.
11:44
- Frank has jumped back into the water and has climbed onto the back
of a hunted whale as the crew of the Nisshin-maru attempt to haul
the mammal onto the factory ship.
11:40
- Frank is back in the inflatable.
11:35
- Greenpeace activist Frank Kamp jumps
out of the inflatable into cold Antarctic waters in the path of Nisshin-maru
forcing the whaling ship to change course.
11:20
- The Arctic Sunrise is in pursuit of the Yushin-maru which has a
harpooned whale tied to its bow and another tied to its stern. The
Greenpeace inflatable "Hurricane" as well as the Greenpeace
helicopter are between the Yushin-maru and the factory ship Nisshin-maru.
By placing themselves between the two ships, the Greenpeace activists
are preventing the whalers from transferring their catch.
(Preventing
the transfer is significant because the whale 'catchers' can only
carry two harpooned whales at a time. If they are unable to transfer
the whales to the factory ship they are effectively prevented from
further whaling.)
11:00
- The crew of the Japanese Whaling ships are using fire hoses in an
attempt to deter the Greenpeace activists.
10:20
- On-board campaigner John Bowler radioed a message
to the crew of Nisshin-maru urging them to halt their illegal whaling.
The message was also read in Japanese through a translator.
10:05
- A Greenpeace inflatable reaches the Nisshin-maru which has just
loaded one harpooned whale from a 'catcher' ship and is preparing
to load another. Greenpeace activists are interfering with the transfer.
09:10
- Japanese whaling fleet spots approaching Greenpeace inflatables
and begins to flee to the east with Sunrise in pursuit.
08:20 - M/V Arctic Sunrise begins pursuit of
Japanese whaling fleet.
05:30 - M/V Arctic Sunrise
picks up the "shadow" of the Nisshin-maru - "mother
ship of the Japanese whaling fleet" on ship's radar. Sunrise
crewmembers later made a visual confirmation.
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