 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
New Zealand Demands Japanese Explanation Over Crippled Whaler
Wellington (AFP) Feb 23, 2007 New Zealand demanded an explanation from Japan Friday why a crippled whaling ship remained in Antarctic waters posing a potential environmental threat. Eight days after fire erupted below decks on the Nisshin Maru, claiming one life, the ship had not been moved although the crew said the main engine was working again. The mothership of the Japanese whaling fleet is carrying more than 1.3 million litres of fuel and lies just 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the Antarctic coast. New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter said the government urgently wanted it out of the area to avoid the potential for an environmental disaster. "We want it out of there," Carter said, adding he had made another personal telephone call to the Japanese ambassador, Masaki Saito, to tell him of the government's concern. The Japanese response was "non-committal", he said. Carter said New Zealand's maritime authority had sent a series of technical questions to the Japanese embassy about the sea-worthiness of the Nisshin Maru, the whaling mothership. "We keep hearing these optimistic reports that the engine is working and that they are making great progress but the bottom line is it is still stationary in the water," he said. "I will accept that the ship is working again when it starts moving under its own steam but there doesn't seem to be any sign of that yet." A spokesman for the Japanese whalers, Glen Inwood, said the main engine was going but sailors had turned it off while they continued with other repairs on board. The weather in the Ross Sea was still calm and the ship was not in any danger from pack ice, he said.
earlier related report The vessel has been disabled since a fire erupted below decks a week ago, sparking fears of an environmental catastrophe should any fuel leak. A spokesman for Japan's whaling programme, Glen Inwood, said the ship's crew had made sufficient repairs to restore power to the vessel and that safety checks were being carried out. "The engines have been turned over and obviously the skipper's decided to shut them off again," Inwood said. "I'm not sure why that's the case but I'm hoping it's just to continue the checks on the vessel." The Nisshin Maru, carrying more than 1.3 million litres of fuel, is just 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the world's biggest Adelie penguin colony at Cape Adare on the Antarctic coast. Inwood said no decision had been made on whether the whaling season will continue or if the fleet will return to Japan. The main concern was whether the processing deck was able to be used again, following extensive damage during the fire. Offers of help to move the stricken ship over the past week have been rejected, drawing a warning from New Zealand that Tokyo faced international condemnation if there was any fuel leakage. The International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986, but Japan has continued hunting for what it calls scientific research.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links Follow the Whaling Debate Follow the Whaling Debate
100 Days to Save the Whale
East Falmouth MA (SPX) Feb 22, 2007The world's leading whale conservation charity today issued a stark warning about the "perfect storm" which could permanently damage the future survival of these mammals. In launching its '100 days to Save the Whale' campaign, WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is highlighting the urgent need to protect whales from an industry which is increasingly aggressive in its approach to international conventions in pursuit of both the numbers and different species it kills. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
