MORE WIND AND RISK TAKING

Motu Maha, Auckland Island, NZ

Carnley Harbour, Auckland Island, NZ

The latest breaking of wind from "Operation Divine Wind" is an at sea refuelling between two ships manned by amateur crews under questionable command abilities.  The SSCS seagoing Cult has announced that the MS Bob Barker and MS Steve Irwin will meet up at Auckland Island, NZ to transfer fuel at sea.  Replenishment at sea between two vessels is a complex operation requiring knowledge and a fairly high degree of seamanship to execute safely without causing a spill and pollution.  From what we have seen over the years in "Whale Wars"® not much seamanship has been in evidence from the SSCS seagoing Cult crews.   Their fearless leader makes some amazing decisions even more so than his windbag statements - this could be a combination of the two and a recipe for disaster.



The MS Bob Barker recently resupplied at Wellington, NZ and is now going to transfer fuel to the MS Steve Irwin, they have chosen to do this at Auckland Island which is part of New Zealand and is situated at 50° 44' South Latitude and 166° 06' East Longitude.  It is therefore some 10° North of the 60° South Latitude limitation for refuelling under the Rules for Antarctica.



There is of course an SSCS Press Release and a story about all this, so NAUTICAL LOG quotes from it under DMCA Protocol:



"Captain Paul Watson has decided to redirect both Sea Shepherd ships to Auckland Island where it will be more difficult for the Japanese ships to approach because they will not be allowed inside the twelve mile limit and Sea Shepherd will be able to use the bays of Auckland Island to move out of radar range of the ships."


What a fascinating statement fellow seafarers, read that a couple of times, can you imagine an experienced ship Master even thinking like that let alone writing and publishing it.  The second quote is even more fascinating and less logical - where is Spock when one needs him?


"The New Zealand authorities have assured us that the Japanese whaling ships will not be allowed inside the New Zealand Economic Exclusion Zone, Auckland Island, therefore, is a more secure location for a fuel transfer."


Are you kidding us?  Are you telling us that the NZ Government gave two non-New Zealand Flag State ships permission to transfer fuel with all its spill and pollution possibilities within the NZ twelve mile limit.  Secondly that NZ is going to keep the Japanese Security Ship, not currently a Whale Catcher mind you, out of that twelve mile limit.  How is it going to do that one might ask and with what since NZ is not patrolling their own claimed waters.  The Japanese vessel has the clear right of "Innocent Passage" to go sightseeing to Auckland Island, NZ should it wish too do so under International Maritime Law.


It seems to NAUTICAL LOG that once again the Chief Windbag "Wats-his-name" is creating a situation  so that if the New Zealand Government acted against the SSCS they will appear to have gone back on their word of agreement which, according to sources in New Zealand, such an agreement does not exist and permission was never given to use Auckland Island in this manner, the whole being a figment of "Wats-his-name" fertile imagination.  Since by their own Press Release "Captain Paul Watson decided" should a spill and pollution occur it will be entirely his personal fault.


Good Watch

Continuing to remind readers that 300 of our fellow seafarers are held hostage by pirates off Puntland, Somalia.  They face the possibility of being mutilated or murdered 24/7/366 this Leap Year.