A very serious situation has developed as a result of evidence of equipment aboard the DFC "Ady Gil" is recovered from the oil stained sea. From the Japanese language website www.icrwhale.org/ come the above photos. They show the DFC "Ady Gil" with hatches open, which may be an attempt to cause the vessel to sink quickly as SS-PG attempts to tow it failed.
In spite of further claims by SS-PG that all fuel had been removed a definite sheen can be seen on the sea surface clear indication of an oil spill. Far more disturbing are the other two photos which show an arrow being recovered from the water and several arrows laid out on deck of the Japanese recovery vessel. These arrows are lethal weapons and if fired from a launcher could quite easily kill somebody.
We now have a case of a lethally armed pirate vessel and this may well be why the crew of the DFC "Ady Gil" wanted the vessel to quickly sink when their towing attempt failed. Captain Bethune of New Zealand must now face serious charges of operating an armed pirate vessel underway at sea. Also his crew and the 'Animal Planet' camera person in the vessel with him are also subject to charges of armed piracy - which is still a hanging offence under Maritime Law.
It becomes even more necessary that New Zealand naval authorities remove these persons to a secure location, a navy brig comes to mind, and prefer armed piracy charges. The remainder of the SS-PG vessels should also be detained and searched for weapons. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) must realize its duty and act on behalf of the thousands of law abiding seafarers who go about their work each day without any of this nautical thuggery.
The 2010 'Year of the Seafarer' continues with some of the most disgusting maritime behaviour that NAUTICAL LOG has seen in a 50 year sea-going career and 6 years of retirement. All seafarers should closely monitor how the IMO and the nations involved, namely, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Australia and New Zealand now act. The Japanese Government as presented two Complainets to the New Zealand Government regarding incidents involving it Flag State vessel DFC "Ady Gil" operated by the New Zealander Captain Bethune. We would ask all International and National Master Mariner Associations, and the Seafarers Unions of all nations to also take action in protecting the honour and safety of seafarers.
Good Watch.
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