It has been quite some time since NAUTICAL LOG addressed the activities of the Sea Shepherd Society. One does not hear much about or from CAPT. Paul Watson one of its founders and the "attack master" of the Japanese Whaling Fleet in the Southern Ocean with several vessels in various conditions, usually not very good, manned by crews of little or no experience.
Largely by guess and by god and with overworked guardian angels they pretty much survived, learnt and those that stayed with it became competent seamen. One must really respect them for that and some were then appointed by and within the Sea Shepherd Society as "Captains". * The title is in quotes because it is given as a courtesy to Masters of civilian vessels that hold Masters papers from a recognized maritime Nation. The Sea Shepherd Society has never to our knowledge published the Masters Certificates or Licences of its appointed "Captains" *. Well never mind so far they have brought home - with one dramatic exception - their vessels and crews.
Now they are off again. The news came out of "Downunder" namely the Australian ports of Melbourne and Hobart that two SSS vessels had sailed this past week. One is the Steve Irwin an old British Government ship already in service and a bright new Damen built patrol vessel named Ocean Warrior. The money for this expensive vessel built by one of the best European Union shipbuilders was raised from three published sources, Dutch Postcode Lottery, the British People's Postcode Lottery, and Svenska Postkod Lotteriet. Of course with the planned departure of the British from the European Union we do not know how they feel about their money being spent in this fashion but it is too late now!!
The International Court of Justice in The Hague declared the Japanese whaling programme in Antarctica not scientific. The Japanese were also found in contempt of an Australian Federal Court Ruling. They took time off from whaling to assess these Court Rulings but have now decided to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean in 2016/2017. As a result the attack vessels from Sea Shepherd are foaming at the mouth ready for action. NAUTICAL LOG used foaming because they have fitted water cannon on deck to do just that. What happens if SSS injure or kill Japanese crewmembers is anyone's guess but it would not be good.
"Sea Shepherd's 11th. Southern Ocean Whale Defense Campaign is named Operation Nemesis after the Greek goddess of inescapable justice" so stated "Captain" Peter Hammarstedt, Chairman of Sea Shepherd Australia which now runs the Society's affairs.
Perhaps he has not read history but the same name Operation Nemesis was used by the Armenians in the 1920's for a programme of assassination, revolt and revenge for the Armenian Massacre by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War of 1914 - 1918. Interestingly the Ocean Warrior was built at the Damen Yard in Turkey and yes sailors are quite superstitious.
Hmmm - we shall have to wait and see whose nemesis this operation becomes.
As news trickles on to our desk we shall assess it and no doubt write a post or two. In the meantime safe sailing in a dangerous Ocean to the SSS ships and we shall be watching with interest how Ocean Warrior holds up.
* With reference to the point about "Captains" NAUTICAL LOG received information this evening that "Captain" Paul Watson is not and never has been in fact a Certificated or Licensed Master. His appointment as a "Captain" came from himself. He is apparently not currently in favour with the Sea Shepherd Society and hence no doubt the note NAUTICAL LOG received. Well after all this time it is not really that important. Sadly his poor or bad influence on all these young crew persons lives is important and one hopes their is someone around who can guide them better into the future.
Good Watch.
Largely by guess and by god and with overworked guardian angels they pretty much survived, learnt and those that stayed with it became competent seamen. One must really respect them for that and some were then appointed by and within the Sea Shepherd Society as "Captains". * The title is in quotes because it is given as a courtesy to Masters of civilian vessels that hold Masters papers from a recognized maritime Nation. The Sea Shepherd Society has never to our knowledge published the Masters Certificates or Licences of its appointed "Captains" *. Well never mind so far they have brought home - with one dramatic exception - their vessels and crews.
Now they are off again. The news came out of "Downunder" namely the Australian ports of Melbourne and Hobart that two SSS vessels had sailed this past week. One is the Steve Irwin an old British Government ship already in service and a bright new Damen built patrol vessel named Ocean Warrior. The money for this expensive vessel built by one of the best European Union shipbuilders was raised from three published sources, Dutch Postcode Lottery, the British People's Postcode Lottery, and Svenska Postkod Lotteriet. Of course with the planned departure of the British from the European Union we do not know how they feel about their money being spent in this fashion but it is too late now!!
The International Court of Justice in The Hague declared the Japanese whaling programme in Antarctica not scientific. The Japanese were also found in contempt of an Australian Federal Court Ruling. They took time off from whaling to assess these Court Rulings but have now decided to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean in 2016/2017. As a result the attack vessels from Sea Shepherd are foaming at the mouth ready for action. NAUTICAL LOG used foaming because they have fitted water cannon on deck to do just that. What happens if SSS injure or kill Japanese crewmembers is anyone's guess but it would not be good.
"Sea Shepherd's 11th. Southern Ocean Whale Defense Campaign is named Operation Nemesis after the Greek goddess of inescapable justice" so stated "Captain" Peter Hammarstedt, Chairman of Sea Shepherd Australia which now runs the Society's affairs.
Perhaps he has not read history but the same name Operation Nemesis was used by the Armenians in the 1920's for a programme of assassination, revolt and revenge for the Armenian Massacre by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War of 1914 - 1918. Interestingly the Ocean Warrior was built at the Damen Yard in Turkey and yes sailors are quite superstitious.
Hmmm - we shall have to wait and see whose nemesis this operation becomes.
As news trickles on to our desk we shall assess it and no doubt write a post or two. In the meantime safe sailing in a dangerous Ocean to the SSS ships and we shall be watching with interest how Ocean Warrior holds up.
* With reference to the point about "Captains" NAUTICAL LOG received information this evening that "Captain" Paul Watson is not and never has been in fact a Certificated or Licensed Master. His appointment as a "Captain" came from himself. He is apparently not currently in favour with the Sea Shepherd Society and hence no doubt the note NAUTICAL LOG received. Well after all this time it is not really that important. Sadly his poor or bad influence on all these young crew persons lives is important and one hopes their is someone around who can guide them better into the future.
Good Watch.
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