Other Greenpeace
Press Releases

21 December, 1999

Dr. Seji Ohsumi
Director
Institute for Cetacean Research
Fax: 813 3536 6522

Dear Dr. Ohsumi:

As you know, there have been several encounters both today and yesterday between the Greenpeace chartered ship the MV Arctic Sunrise and the whaling fleet operated by the Institute for Cetacean Research in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.

Greenpeace is protesting Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean in violation of the Sanctuary declared by the International Whaling Commission. Japan's continued whaling in the area is clearly in contravention of Articles 65 and 120 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which requires all countries to cooperate with the International Whaling Commission in regard to whaling.

Earlier today the Nisshin Maru engaged in irresponsible and dangerous manoeuvres. The Nisshin Maru, while overtaking the Arctic Sunrise, made a sudden sharp turn toward the Arctic Sunrise and hit her on the port side, near the bow. This manoeuvre was in clear violation of 13(a) of the IMO rules and regulations for preventing collisions at sea (1972). As far as we know at this point in time, the Arctic Sunrise sustained damage to the port bow bulwarks, a hole in the forecastle deck, and the aft runner on the port side A-Frame.

Yesterday, on two occasions the Arctic Sunrise passed close by the Nisshin Maru (while she was on a steady course). On both occasions the Nisshin Maru turned abruptly toward the Arctic Sunrise when she was abreast of the Nisshin Maru, forcing the Arctic Sunrise to manoeuvre quickly to avoid a collision.

These dangerous manoeuvres, repeated on several occasions by the Nisshin Maru, have now resulted in a collision.

In addition, as you know, yesterday Greenpeace undertook non-violent protests against whaling. Nothing was done to threaten the safety of the Japanese seamen. Before the protest began, we advised the Japanese ships by radio (in Japanese), on VHF Channels 16 and 6, that Greenpeace is a non-violent organisation and that we would not hurt or endanger your ship's crew in any way. We did not receive a reply

Our non-violence was met by violence from your crews. The crew on the Nisshin Maru and the Yushin Maru directed fire hoses at the rotors of a helicopter from the Arctic Sunrise in a clear attempt to interfere with its flight. This was a very dangerous act by the whalers' crew with severe risk to human life. An aircraft in flight is very vulnerable and a small helicopter flying over the Antarctic Ocean even more so. Had the attempt to destabilise the flight of the helicopter been successful, resulting in loss of control by the pilot, the machine could have crashed into the water or onto the ship which had interfered with its flight. Had this occurred, the ICR would have been responsible for the resulting injury and loss of human life.

I urge that you immediately instruct your crews in the Antarctic not to direct fire hoses against aircraft and to respond to communications directed to them on VHF Channel 16.

I demand an immediate end to all activities by your whaling fleet which threaten safety and human life. We will hold the ICR responsible for any damage, injuries or deaths which result from the dangerous behaviour displayed by your employees in the Antarctic. I urge you also to withdraw your whaling fleet from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Again, Japan's continued whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary undermines the International Whaling Commission, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the effectiveness of international law. If all countries were to selectively ignore their international maritime treaty obligations, as Japan is doing by whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, chaos would likely reign on the high seas and render the conservation and protection of the marine environment impossible.

I look forward to a prompt response from you.

Sincerely Thilo Bode
Executive Director
Greenpeace International

cc: Sanae Shida, Executive Director Greenpeace Japan