The Japanese whaling vessel NISSHIN
MARU has managed to restore power to her electricity systems say the New
Zealand maritime authorities.
Steve Corbett of Maritime New Zealand says that significant progress has
been made by the crew in getting the ship fixed. Power has not yet been
restored to her main engines, however he said that towing arrangements had
been put in place should the crew be unable to get them going.
Mr Corbett's confidence is in sharp contrast however to his Prime
Minister's expressions of concern earlier.
"At the moment the Japanese are saying 'we can cope'," she told Newstalk
ZB, New Zealand's prime talk radio station.
"They'd better be right because no one would forgive them for an
environmental accident which causes huge damage to that pristine area.
"My advice is if you can't see a way of getting that boat out of there
without some help either from the American vessel or from Greenpeace or
from somebody else, the world is going to be very upset if there's a major
spill in that area."
Further underscoring the New Zealand government's displeasure at the
vessel's activities in the Antarctic, the Conservation Minister Chris
Carter was reported as being 'cool' on any prospects of the ship having to
dock in New Zealand if adequate towage was not available. He doubted if
the Japanese would make the request, but if they did, then they, the NZ
government, would have to 'consider' that there was whale meat aboard.
For previous reports on this topic, please see:
item176_NISSHIN_MARU.htm
item181_NISSHIN_MARU.htm
item186_NISSHIN_MARU3.htm |
