Japanese whaling ship 'aggressively' tracking Sea Shepherd anti whaling ship

The Shonan Maru No 2 in pursuit of the MY Steve Irwin. The Helicopter crew races to take down their blades and secure the helicopter for storage before the Shonan Maru No 2 gets closer. Photo credit: Michael Williams/Sea Shepherd

Steve Irwin being targeted by Japanese whalers

December 2009. Southern Ocean- Sea Shepherd’s ship Steve Irwin is ten days at sea after departing Fremantle, Australia, and has had a Japanese tail ship for nine of those days, the Shonan Maru  No. 2. This Japanese security ship is reporting the Steve Irwin’s location, preventing them from closing in on the whaling fleet.

Sea Shepherd entered French Antarctic territorial waters after receiving permission from the French Base at Dumont D’Urville in an attempt to lose the tail ship. The Shonan Maru No. 2 followed the Steve Irwin into French waters without permission in pursuit. The French Base confirms that the Japanese ship neither requested nor received permission to enter French waters.

Long Range Acoustical Device
At 17.30, the Steve Irwin helicopter flew back to film the Shonan Maru No. 2 in its illegal pursuit. In response, it is believed that the crew of the Japanese ship activated their Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) at the Sea Shepherd helicopter. LRAD is a military class weapon.

The Japanese harpoon ship, Shonan Maru No 2 appearing from behind an iceberg. Photo credit: Barbara Veiga/Sea Shepherd

“This was an extremely irresponsible thing to do,” said helicopter pilot Chris Aultman. “That device can cause nausea and disorientation and the use of it against an aircraft is both extremely dangerous and grossly irresponsible.”

Water canon
The Sea Shepherd helicopter returned to the Steve Irwin for safety from the LRAD, at which point, the Shonan Maru No. 2 increased speed and aimed their water canons in an apparent attempt to destroy the helicopter on the landing pad. This occurred while the crew was attempting to secure the helicopter.

Captain Watson responded by deploying a 150-metre line aft of the vessel to force the Shonan Maru No. 2 to maintain a safe distance. The Sea Shepherd ship is undamaged and the crew safe.

Sea Shepherd has reported the incident to the French authorities. The pursuit continues.

“The situation is now very dangerous,” said Captain Paul Watson. “We have deliberately led the Japanese ship into thick ice in order to lose them in the ice. The ice bergs could easily damage either vessel.”