Some interesting information from Ecorazzi www.ecorazzi.com this morning. It appears that while the SSCS seagoing Cult crewmembers pay everything themselves, travel to and from the vessels and all expenses the SSCS top echelon get paid. The pay scales quoted are salaried employees $30,000 to $60,000 while "Wats-his-name" gets $96,000 - no data about their expenses however.
Now this is fascinating as it confirms the offer made last year to NAUTICAL LOG yes NAUTICAL LOG that archfiend who dares to criticise the SSCS seagoing Cult. We have an e.mail on file which offered a position as Master to take the MS Steve Irwin from Australia to the United Kingdom. On following up we were told there would be a salary and expenses would be covered. All we can conclude from this is that, since we know the SSCS contact to be genuine, there was a dastardly plot to dump NAUTICAL LOG overboard in the Indian Ocean or some strange twisted plan to convert NAUTICAL LOG to the SSCS seagoing Cult way of thinking. One has to wonder how that was going to work!!
Frankly we thought the dumping to be best bet for SSCS and since we were going to Ireland for the Waterford Sail Training Festival 2011 we declined. Seriously can you imagine the convoluted thinking of these people to even come up with such an idea. But then reading the latest of their PR's perhaps one should not be too surprised as the SSCS has long left the realms of reality far behind.
In other SSCS news from Majirox News in Tokyo comes a report that crewmen aboard the Japanese Fishery Protection vessel MS Shonan Maru #2 hurled stun grenades at Sea Shepherd crewmembers who were alongside the JFP in a RHIB. The Japanese Coastguard reported that a Sea Shepherd RHIB was attempting to disable the vessel by deploying ropes with floats and metal attachments to foul the propeller. After refusing to respond to instructions given by bullhorn the stun grenades were thrown.
However in fairness to all concerned the news report was not sympathetic to their fellow Japanese and were in fact quite critical. It is of course an act of Piracy to attempt to harass a vessel in this manner on the High Seas but since no one prosecutes these paid executive pirates why should the SSCS seagoing Cult and their salaried shore Staff pay any attention to Maritime Law.
Good Watch.
That other group of pirates hold 300 of our fellow seafarers hostage off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. Day after day they are under the extraordinary stress of being murdered at any moment. Not a thing is being done to rescue them. NAUTICAL LOG will keep going on and on about them after every Post until something is done - we will never quit on our fellow seafarers.
12 comments:
If a fleet of vessels is poaching in international waters then what rights do these criminals have?
Fin whales are endangered by any measure. Yet, the Japanese think they can improve the Fin whale numbers with harpoons and a side of steamed rice? If I start trafficking silver back gorilla parts is this OK? Or is your views on whaling complete absorbed by Watson? Thats pretty myopic.
How are the Sea Shepherd crew pirates? I haven't heard any reports of them taking over any ships, stealing any cargo, or taking any hostages.
I do understand that they are trying to disable ships that appear to be operating in a very dark grey area of the law but I don't see how the term pirate can be legitimatly applied to them.
You seem confused and disoriented Evol-D. Please take some time and clear your head and look at the facts
Don't forget the $750,000 paid to the SSCS by Animal Planet.
"You seem confused and disoriented Evol-D. Please take some time and clear your head and look at the facts"
Really. Lets start throwing some facts around and see who comes out ahead.
Fin whales are endangered. There is no other equivalent scientific body from any nation that backs up the Japanese method of research. If the the goal is to bring the population back to 'sustainable numbers' then what good does grenade tipped harpoon do? If you are worried about the holes shot in ones foot then please tell me the good of reloading your gun and continuing to pull the trigger? Honestly, I dont see Diane Fossey shooting gorillas to save them. How does hunting whales sustain their numbers? The answer is it doesn't. Just like the Japanese/European completely irresponsible destruction of the tuna stocks their is no scientific rational. And if their is no science then its commercial whaling simply for the profit. If nations are engaged in commercial whaling they are poaching. Now tell me what facts do you have that are going to clear my head.
This is such a polarizing subject for some people. I suspect commenter Evol-D misses the point that the maritime community is often strongly anti-whaling, but not to the point where we find it acceptable to use illegal and immoral means to employ a workforce without adequately providing for their safety and training. Further, the blatant disregard for safety and good seamanship is counterproductive to the concept of swaying public opinion when coupled with the public laundry-airing that SSCS employs. For the professional mariners that make up the majority (I suspect) of readers here, watching the antics of SSCS on TV is very much like watching an anti-training video.
M. E. State the facts you are referring to. I look at the facts from both sides on a daily basis and it appears you are the one with the clouded head. I agree with Evol-D
PAUL,Dammit: Thank you, this perfectly sums up my own view. Excellent comment which NAUTICAL LOG recommends all commenters on all sides of this issue read and understand. To those of you still learning NAUTICAL LOG would suggest reading the Maritime Law definition of "Pirates". This is shooting from the lip without knowledge - does not impress us professional mariners in the least.
Good Watch.
The ICR gunboats have repeatedly entered the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone and also the Australian Whale Sanctuary over the last decade.
The Japanese govt has refused to acknowledge the AWS, even though Australian law states that any mammals killed within that zone will attract a criminal penalty.
To date, though whales have been killed within the AWS by the ICR(and I can back this up, if you ask real nice) there has been no legal action taken, so far, by the OZ govt.
The point I am making is that 'cults' like SSCS are filling a space where some Australians feel that that OZ govt is failing.
This fight has always been about territory and politics - not about the whales. SSCS make it about whales, and good for them, but in the long term there are deals going on between the two countries that are bigger than sexy whale wars.
It's all about access to Antarctic waters.
Why quibble over anything less?
Sarah, are you referring to the right of free passage? Although the Antarctic is covered by several treaties, all are subject to inernational law- anyone is welcome to pass through the territorial seas of any nation during the course of innocent passage. I'm not certain, but I think you're confusing Australia's EEZ with their Territorial seas, which are two very, very different things.
Paul, I agree with you take on SSCS and professional mariners. Here are some facts from a very pro-SSCS POV. Watson can be asshole. The rookie crew of the SSCS do not practice the best seamanship. Paul, I agree with you take on SSCS and professional mariners. Here are some facts from a very pro-SSCS POV. Watson can be asshole. The rookie crew of the SSCS do not practice the best seamanship. Fine. That is settled. One point that I think is overlooked is that the SSCS wants professional mariners to be there. There should be a customs ship right there the whole time. On point that Watson makes that I think is spot on is that if this was a fleet of Indonesian or S. American poachers that customs ship would be there no questions. But for the whalers with their much more powerful influence this becomes not the case. This is interesting and much more so when watching Australian politicians dance around this. With the current state of poaching and fisheries collapse I believe it prudent that govs spend much more on customs and fishery enforcement assets. This is why I get frustrated when the topic only Watson focused. There is a whole range of maritime topics to be address and solved. Fine. That is settled. One point that I think is overlooked is that the SSCS wants professional mariners to be there. There should be a customs ship right there the whole time. On point that Watson makes that I think is spot on is that if this was a fleet of Indonesian or S. American poachers that customs ship would be there no questions. But for the shalers with thier much more powerful influence this becomes not the case. This is interesting and much more so when watching Australian politicians dance around this. WIth the current state of poaching and fisheries collapse I believe it prudent that govs spend much more on customs and fishery enfourcement assets. THis is why I get frustrated when the topic only Watson focused. There is a whole range of maritime topics to be address and solved.
-Andre aka Evol-D
ANDRE aka Evol-D: NAUTICAL LOG would like to thank you for this comment and we feel sure PAUL would agree that this is the type of thoughtful and constructive point of view needed from SSCS supporters. Too often comments are just written to vent feelings without knowledge of maritime affairs or its laws. ANDRE the main problem with the SSCS is Watsons Cult control. Get rid of him as GREENPEACE did and maybe y'all could negotiate a NGO contract to patrol on the Australian Governments behalf under "Letters of Marque" for each vessel. With a properly licensed and salaried manning crew the vessels could be effective and without piracy tactics. Getting rid of Watson is the first thing to do. NAUTICAL LOG stands ready to help professionly if this happens with our experience, STCW training, interviewing, crew selection thus putting our knowledge where our mouth is!! Good nay great comment we look forward to more constructive ideas and solving this savagery of whaling once and for all. "When good men (and the ladies) stand together great things may be achieved"
Good Watch.
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