Bob Barker Rammed by Illegal Whaler

The Bob Barker had been actively blocking the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, the
Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship when the collision occurred. Four
harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3 and Shonan Maru 2, were circling
and making near passes to the stern and bow of the Sea Shepherd vessel. The
Bob Barker did not move from its position. At which point, the Yushin Maru 3
intentionally rammed the Bob Barker, creating a 3-foot long 4-inch deep gash
in the mid starboard side of the Sea Shepherd vessel above the waterline.

No crew was injured during the collision. The Bob Barker continues to block
the slipway of the Nisshin Maru, preventing the transfer of slaughtered whales
and effectively shutting down illegal whaling operations.

The incident demonstrates a continued escalation of violence by the illegal
whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Said Captain Paul Watson from the bridge of the Steve Irwin, currently en
route to join the action, "Because the whalers got away basically scot-free
with the outrageous sinking of the Ady Gil, they now apparently think they can
do whatever they want and they appear to have no qualms about endangering Sea
Shepherd crew. What we really need is for the governments of Australia and New
Zealand to step up and start enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who
know what the whalers will do next. Australian and New Zealand lives are at
risk every day in these waters."

The crew of the Bob Barker noticed that the Yushin Maru 3 stopped moving in
the water shortly after the impact, and appeared to be falling behind as the
Bob Barker maintained its position on the stern of the Nisshin Maru. It's
possible the Yushin Maru 3 damaged itself in the collision.

The Japanese whalers are far more aggressive this year than in past campaigns.

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About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an
International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the
destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world¡¯s oceans in
order to conserve and protects ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses
innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action
when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By
safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea
Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations. Founder and
President Captain Paul Watson, is a renowned, respected leader in
environmental issues. Visit http://www.seashepherd.org for more information.