February 18, 2007 - Onboard the Greenpeace ship Esperanza in the Southern Ocean - campaigning against illegal whaling - we find ourselves in an unexpected situation. The vessel we had been searching for - the Japanese factory whaling ship Nisshin Maru - issued a distress call after a serious fire broke out on board. Missing since the fire, the body of 27-year-old Kazutaka Makita, has been found. We offered our condolences to the crew and would like to extend them to Kazutaka Makita's wife and family.

Esperanza on course

The Esperanza is is standing by, nearby the disabled whaling ship. We've made a commitment to the fleet to assist the crew in any way possible, and make an environmental impact assessment if needed. It's reported that the ship could be carrying approximately 1,000 tons of oil and sitting 100 nautical miles from the largest Adelie penguin colony in the world.

Meanwhile we have been using our helicopter, Tweety, for aerial surveys to assess the ice conditions nearby. The pack ice to the south of our position has moved 3 miles north in the last 24 hours and is now only 10 miles away.

We offered to tow the Nisshin Maru north, in order to assist and ensure there is no further threat to the environment from the disabled vessel. The Fisheries Agency of Japan has responded by calling us "terrorists," an unhelpful response, given the potential for further risk and danger in this already serious humanitarian and environmental situation in the depths of the Ross Sea.

"Our first thoughts are for the crew and the family of Kazutaka Makita. This is not a time to play politics from behind a desk in Tokyo," said Karli Thomas, expedition leader on board the Esperanza. "This is a human tragedy and a potential environmental disaster. We have a moral obligation to act and there is a legal obligation under the Antarctic treaty for the Nisshin Maru's owners to accept our help." Thomas added.

Offer of help

The Esperanza's captain, Frank Kamp, has ten years of experience working on salvage vessels prior to joining Greenpeace. Another vessel may be required to tow the 8,000-ton Nisshin Maru beyond Antarctic waters through the stormy "Roaring Forties" weather, though we'll be making every effort to take the Nisshin Maru all the way into port.

"While we recognise the humanitarian and environmental need to assist the Nisshin Maru, we are not in the business of salvaging a whaling ship in order for it to start whaling again next season," added Thomas. "This tragedy should mark the end of this terrible business and the government funding should be invested not in a new or repaired ship, but in something that the Japanese people can truly benefit from."

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Esperanza still on watch over disabled whaling ship

22 February 2007 - Antarctica — The Greenpeace ship Esperanza maintains its watch over the Japanese government's whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru, which was disabled by fire.

The Esperanza arrived at the location in the Ross Sea at about 07.00 (New Zealand daylight time) on the 17th of February. Two ships - the re-supply and re-fuelling vessel Oriental Bluebird and one of the harpoon, or catcher boats - were tied either side of the Nisshin Maru. Nearby were two more catcher boats.

Shortly after the Esperanza arrived, a US Coast Guard icebreaker, the Polar Sea appeared. They said they were also here to assess the situation. The Yushin Maru then asked our campaigner from Japan, Sakyo to help translate between the two.

Offer of help

We have offered to tow the Nisshin Maru north, in order to assist and ensure there was no further threat to the environment from the disabled vessel.

The Nisshin Maru is secured to two other ships, which takes care of short-term difficulties. It's been reported that one of them, the Oriental Bluebird, could tow the Nisshin Maru. However, Frank Kamp, the Esperanza's captain, says that the Oriental Bluebird clearly isn't the best option - and he has ten years experience on salvage vessels. The Oriental Bluebird is too big and too difficult to manoeuvre should more problems arise. As it stands, we're still the best option should the Nisshin Maru need to be towed out of the Ross Sea. The New Zealand Prime Minister and more than 10,000 Greenpeace online activists have asked the Japanese government to accept our offer to remove the crippled ship from Antarctic waters.

Glenn Inwood, a Public Relations spin doctor who represents the Institute of Cetacean Research, has claimed that the Nisshin Maru has restarted its engines and will recommence whaling. However, crew aboard the Nisshin Maru have told us differently. Read more about the diverging facts at the weblog.