12 January Action Photographs
9 January Action Photographs - New Whaling Photographs
8 January Action Photographs - Photographs of the M/V Arctic Sunrise
29 December Action Photographs - 25 December Action Photographs
Japanese Whaling Fleet - 22 December Action Photographs
20 December Action Photographs

Action Photos

During the most intense action to date, Greenpeace activists found themselves under high pressure hoses, dragged up a stern ramp, and in the sub-zero Antarctic water as they attempted to halt Japan's illegal whaling program.

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Deb McIntyre of Australia and David DeJong of the Netherlands attach their inflatable to the harpooned minke at the stern ramp of the Nisshin-maru.

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The crew of the Nisshin-maru drag both the whale and the inflatable part way up the stern ramp. A Japanese crew member would momentarily use a flensing knife to cut the inflatable loose.

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Undaunted, Deb and other Greenpeace activists quickly moved to the bow of the Nisshin-maru and placed themselves in the frigid Antarctic water to block the ship's path. The Nisshin-maru did not change course or slow down.

Whaling Photos

The crew of the M/V Arctic Sunrise are documenting Japan's illegal whaling program as well as conducting a variety of scientific experiments.

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The Kyo-maru crew lash the whale onto the port side. They will eventually transfer the whale to the factory ship Nisshin-maru where it will be butchered. The New Zealand government estimates that Japan has killed roughly 4,500 minke whales in the Southern Ocean since 1990.

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A slaughtered minke whale awaits butchering on the deck of the Nisshin-maru.

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The crew of the Nisshin-maru make quick work of the whale. The fleet plans to kill and butcher over 400 minke whales this year.

Action Photos

On 9 January the Greenpeace activists tried a different tactic to stop Japan's illegal whale hunt. By mounting a fire pump on the stern of their inflatable the Greenpeacers were able to shoot a vertical stream of water in front of the harpoon of the Toshi-maru - sufficiently obscuring the vision of the crew members to make hunting impossible.

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Action Photos

After tracking the Japanese whaling fleet through the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary during a week of bleak weather conditions, Greenpeace caught up with the ships on 8 January.

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Greenpeace activists attempt to prevent the transfer of an illegally-hunted
minke whale onto the deck of the Nisshin-maru. The inflatables were repeatedly swamped by fire hoses from 3 Japanese whaling ships.

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Greenpeace crew members (from left) Andrew Daview, Daniel Rizzotti, and Jaume Espina in front of the Yushin-maru. Note the ship's harpoon.

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Boxed in by three Japanese whaling ships.

The M/V Arctic Sunrise

The Dutch-flagged motorized vessel was built in 1975 and is 49.62 meters long and 11 meters wide. Its maximum draft is 5.8 meters and its tonnage is 949 tons. The ice-hardened vessel is ideally suited for work near the coast of Antarctica. There are 31 crewmembers from 14 countries onboard for this campaign.

The Sunrise and the Japanese factory ship, Nisshin-maru.

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The Sunrise steams past a seal riding the Antarctic ice flows.

Action Photos

On 29 December Greenpeace crewmembers deployed four inflatables from the M/V Arctic Sunrise to prevent the Japanese whaling fleet from illegally hunting whales in the Southern Ocean. The crew of one inflatable was able to place themselves between the harpoon of the Kyo-maru and whale and its calf. The activists prevented two of the three 'catcher ships' from hunting whales for almost five hours.

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A Greenpeace inflatable alongside the Toshi-maru.

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Greenpeace activists off the bow, and in front of the harpoon, of the Kyo-maru. So far the whalers have refused to accept any formal communications from Greenpeace.

Action Photos

On Christmas day, Greenpeace activists continued their relentless direct action campaign to halt Japan's illegal whale hunt.

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A Greenpeace activist approaches the Nisshin-maru and a whale "catcher" ship. Note the minke whale tied to the port side.

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Facing down fire hoses in an attempt to prevent the whalers from transfering their catch.

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Toshi-maru
Catcher ship - A specially designed ship to hunt whales.

The ship weighs 740 tons and carries 22 crewmembers.

M/V Arctic Sunrise first mate Frank Kamp in the frigid Antarctic water as he tries to prevent the Nisshin-maru from hauling a minke whale on board.

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Alongside the Yushin-maru with the Portuguese banner "para: caça legal" which translates "stop illegal whaling."

Action Photos

On 21 December, Greenpeace activists dressed as Santas delivered a message to the whaling ship Toshi-maru. They then maintained their presence for four hours ensuring that the Toshi-maru could not hunt whales. The crew of the catcher ship covered their harpoon.

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Who's been naughty?
Greenpeace activists Deb McIntyre and Daniel Rizzoti dressed as Santas to deliver a gift wrapped message to the crew of the whale catcher Toshi-maru. The message urges the fleet to halt their illegal whaling program. The whalers threw the message into the sea.

In front of the Toshi-maru and under the harpoon.