Now the Players must arrive to play their parts once again in the annual Southern Ocean drama of man and mammal. On Thursday from ports in Japan came the departure of the Japanese Whaling Fleet. On Thursday from ports in Australia came the departure of the Sea Shepherds. But it seems that this year there may be some differences in the drama.
The leader of the Greens in Australia says a court injunction should be taken against the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. In June 2010 Australia filed a complaint against the Japanese Whaling Fleet in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. The case and any possible decision will not be addressed until 2013, two Southern Ocean whaling seasons in the future.
The differences referred to above are, on the Japanese side, a possibly reduced whaling fleet since their supply ship will have to be replaced. However as NAUTICAL LOG mentioned in a previous Post the Japanese are understood to have made some arrangements for security and supply. But we shall have to see what transpires - no "wikileak" reveals here.
On the other side, that of the SSCS, they again have three vessels and maybe also a change of behavioural attitude. In addition to their two Netherlands Flag State vessels, MS Steve Irwin with Mr. Watson in command and MS Bob Barker with Mr. Cornelissen in command, they now have an official Australian Government vessel accompanying them.
The photo in the SSCS Press Release shows the Australia Flag State MS Gojira with the Australian Blue Ensign - the National Flag - hoisted. This Ensign being indicative of an Australian Government vessel. If she was an Australian Merchant Navy vessel she would have the Australian Red Ensign hoisted. The person commanding this Australian Government vessel is Australian Mr. Locky MacLean who it is understood has an all Australian crew aboard. Mr. MacLean in his departure statement said that there is no way he is going to be ramming steel ships with his composite MS Gojira and that there will be "no cowboy tactics this year".
Altogether with the Shepherdess Michelle possibly missing her place onstage the Japanese Whaling Fleet must be breathing sighs of relief - really. The Australian Government is also no doubt quite pleased that their Government ship is not going to be used as an expensive battering ram.
So now the 2010-2011 drama 'Operation No Compromise' gets underway and we await the players onstage. At NAUTICAL LOG we understand that in those Japanese movies Gojira/Godzilla always ends up being defeated this being so - ah whatever.
Good Watch.
The leader of the Greens in Australia says a court injunction should be taken against the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. In June 2010 Australia filed a complaint against the Japanese Whaling Fleet in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. The case and any possible decision will not be addressed until 2013, two Southern Ocean whaling seasons in the future.
The differences referred to above are, on the Japanese side, a possibly reduced whaling fleet since their supply ship will have to be replaced. However as NAUTICAL LOG mentioned in a previous Post the Japanese are understood to have made some arrangements for security and supply. But we shall have to see what transpires - no "wikileak" reveals here.
On the other side, that of the SSCS, they again have three vessels and maybe also a change of behavioural attitude. In addition to their two Netherlands Flag State vessels, MS Steve Irwin with Mr. Watson in command and MS Bob Barker with Mr. Cornelissen in command, they now have an official Australian Government vessel accompanying them.
The photo in the SSCS Press Release shows the Australia Flag State MS Gojira with the Australian Blue Ensign - the National Flag - hoisted. This Ensign being indicative of an Australian Government vessel. If she was an Australian Merchant Navy vessel she would have the Australian Red Ensign hoisted. The person commanding this Australian Government vessel is Australian Mr. Locky MacLean who it is understood has an all Australian crew aboard. Mr. MacLean in his departure statement said that there is no way he is going to be ramming steel ships with his composite MS Gojira and that there will be "no cowboy tactics this year".
Altogether with the Shepherdess Michelle possibly missing her place onstage the Japanese Whaling Fleet must be breathing sighs of relief - really. The Australian Government is also no doubt quite pleased that their Government ship is not going to be used as an expensive battering ram.
So now the 2010-2011 drama 'Operation No Compromise' gets underway and we await the players onstage. At NAUTICAL LOG we understand that in those Japanese movies Gojira/Godzilla always ends up being defeated this being so - ah whatever.
Good Watch.
UPDATE NOTE: NAUTICAL LOG has been informed from an Australian correspondent that Shepherdess Michelle will NOT be serving as back-up pilot to Mr. Aultman in spite of the skills she showed in "Avatar". So once again Pilot Chris is on his own - sorry mate.
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