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A Japanese whaling group has accused the Sea Shepherd activist group of attacking a second ship in the Southern Ocean.
The Japanese Whaling Association (JWA) said the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society launched a small zodiac boat which attacked Yushin Maru No 3, the sister vessel of the Yushin Maru No 2, overnight.
It also accused Australia of giving "limousine service" to Sea Shepherd activists Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane, who were detained on the Yushin Maru No 2 before being handed over to the Australian customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, on Friday.
"At 2am, 18th of January, Sea Shepherd zodiac boat sneaked up during the dark night and attacked the sister ship, Yushin Maru No 3, one of the Antarctic research expedition vessels owned by the Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, by throwing 10 butyric acid bottles," the JWA said in a statement.
Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha president Kazuo Yamamura said the attack on the Yushin Maru No 3 was akin to terrorism.
"We have handed two illegal intruders safely to Australian authorities despite Sea Shepherd unlawfully attacking our vessels," he said.
"Nevertheless, Sea Shepherd attacked our vessel again during the night. Such action should be condemned as a terrorist attack.
"The government of Australia should order the seizure of the the Steve Irwin."
AAP
