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A collision between a Japanese whaling ship and an anti-whaling protest vessel in the Southern Ocean is being investigated by New Zealand rescue authorities.
Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) is trying to gather more information about an incident in the Southern Ocean after they received a distress call from the master of a Japanese vessel Kaiko Maru about 4pm today.
The master reported there had been a collision between his vessel and Robert Hunter, an anti-whaling protest vessel run by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Sea Shepherd leader Captain Paul Watson said the confrontation occurred when the conservation group's vessels, the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat, caught the Japanese ship bearing down on a pod of whales.
"At one point the Kaiko Maru turned to starboard and struck the Robert Hunter," Sea Shepherd said in a statement.
"The Kaiko Maru has issued a distress signal. We have acknowledged this distress signal but they refuse to say what distress they are in."
RCCNZ has been able to communicate with both vessels and mission controller John Ashby said their first priority had been to find out if anyone required assistance and in what form.
"So far we understand that neither vessel is in danger of sinking and that there are no injuries but we need to find out the exact status of both vessels so we can work out our options."
The director general of the company operating Kaiko Maru, Dr Hiroshi Hatanaka of the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), has condemned the Sea Shepherd following the incident.
"The Robert Hunter rammed the Kaiko Maru," Dr Hatanaka said.
"Afterwards, both the Robert Hunter and the Farley Mowat came to the either side of the Kaiko Maru stopping her from continuing.
"This was done in the same manner employed by pirates."
"Its propeller has been damaged by them. The vessel is stranded at the moment and has already put out several distress calls."
"Yesterday, we reiterated our concerns for the safety of our crew and scientists in the Antarctic. Unfortunately, these concerns are now a reality," Dr Hatanaka said.
"Sea Shepherd is conducting a campaign of outright destruction and terrorism. We have serious concerns that someone will be injured or killed in its destructive terrorism.
- NZPA
