Another Japanese whaling ship has rammed and damaged the Sea Shepherd’s Bob Barker vessel, after the world gave the Japanese the ‘green light’ to do so, by ignoring the last collision.

Just after lunch, Australian time, the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker was intentionally rammed by the Yutan Maru 3, while it stood idol in the ocean.

The crash penetrated the Bob Barker’s hull and threatened the lives of those who were on board, 180 miles away from land.

Sea Shepherd crew had been still in the water, blocking the Nisshin Maru, the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship from loading dead whales, a common practice in stopping whale slaughter.

After threatening and circling the Bob Barker with vessels, the Japanese suddenly turned and crashed into it, creating a 3-foot long 4-inch deep gash in the mid starboard side above the waterline.

This latest incident is the second in a month, after an initial ramming by the Japanese whalers, which caused the Sea Shepherd’s new Ady Gil vessel to sink and narrowly missed killing crew members.

Japanese harpoon ships are displaying signs of confidence in their aggression, with the latest collision involving four Japanese harpoons circling the Bob Barker, before the Yushin Maru 3 ‘rammed’ it.

Such aggression has not been witnessed before and Sea Shepherd members believe that it is because nothing has been done to deter or punish the harpooners for their actions.

It was stated in an article released by the Sea Shepherd that “the incident demonstrates a continued escalation of violence by the illegal whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary”

Captain and founder Paul Watson said “because the whalers got away basically scot-free with the outrageous sinking of the Ady Gil, they now apparently think they can do whatever they want and they appear to have no qualms about endangering Sea Shepherd crew”.

“What we really need is for the governments of Australia and New Zealand to step up and start enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who know what the whalers will do next. Australian and New Zealand lives are at risk every day in these waters."

Sea Shepherd crew will continue to block the Japanese factory ship from processing dead whales, as it successfully stops their production levels, which results in the industry being negatively affected and the possibility of illegal hunting ceasing altogether.
In an ironic twist the Japanese ship which rammed the Bob Barker, stopped moving shortly after the collision and was seen falling quickly behind, indicating that it may have damaged its own ship in the incident.

Captain of the Bob Barker ship, Chuck Swift, said “As we sit in the shadow of this cetacean death machine, I’m proud to captain this ship and fine crew on such a noble mission”.

“We will end these illegal operations once and for all, thanks to support from our staff and supporters the world over.”