MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE CONTINUES

FPV Jean Charcot

FPV Jean Charcot

On checking our Press Release folder this evening we noticed two things, no USCG Releases have been forwarded to NAUTICAL LOG as requested. Not even those related to the BP oil on Florida's beaches and the Sea Shepherd vessel MS Steve Irwin continues its quiet cruise of the Mediterranean. You know NAUTICAL LOG likes them a whole lot better these days, they actually are behaving quite decently and it would seem effectively. They call it "patrolling" but it is more like skulking around looking for trouble, still the approach seems to be working. What is really patrolling is the ICCAT fishery protection vessel Jean Charcot, and she is keeping a close watch on all hands. The Greenpeace crowd found that out getting into trouble quite quickly. A group of 'activists' from the Greenpeace vessel MS Arctic Sunrise attempted to open a tuna cage (see photos above) about 22 nautical miles south of Malta. The Maltese Navy responded and prevented that happening. Now Malta has advised Greenpeace that criminal charges will be preferred for the incident. The SS-PG 'Wats-his-name' goes on about the fishermen being under 'military protection'. Perhaps he does not know or more likely chooses to ignore the fact that European Nations did not have Coastguards until fairly recently and therefore fishery protection duties were assigned to their National Navy. In the United States this duty has always been assigned to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service later the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

NAUTICAL LOG was fascinated by this mild statement from SS-PG 'Fleet Admiral Wats-his-name' as he was referred to by Peter H. on this seasons "Whale Wars" we quote:

"We can take on the fishermen, but not the guns of the Navy, and we have no interest in capturing headlines. Our interest is in capturing poachers"

Are these the same people who for years have been ramming ships and shouting 'give life to the whales or give me death' or was that the American patriot chap, well whatever, that quote is really wimpy stuff. It seems the Australian Navy (are they still Royal) need not have remained hidden in their bases, had they just gone to sea the SS-PG vessels would have run away not wanting to 'capture headlines'. This is all very weird, what has happened with the SS-PG fearless leader - oh right that International Arrest Warrant.

Well of course this was all too boring for the SS-PG so what to do? Lets head off for Libya or at least into the 'jaws of death rode the six hundred', sorry got carried away with all this drama. So they crossed "The Line of Death" remember that? NAUTICAL LOG was in Malta at the time all that occurred. The MS Steve Irwin claims to have crossed Latitude 33 degrees 30 minutes North and entered the Gulf of Sidra. There was no response from Libya and one has to feel just a little bit disappointed because it appears the helicopter was launched and flew around twice - such bravado! Still why complain, they are great for copy and the photos.

Good Watch.