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 The
Institute of Cetacean Research said today that the Japanese whale research
vessel, Nisshin Maru had "successfully recovered full power following a
fire that damaged the ship and took the life of a crew member."
The Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Dr Hiroshi
Hatanaka, said that crew had worked tirelessly day and night to restore
the vessel to working order since the February 15 fire. He said they had
worked professionally and responsibly, checking all electrical and
mechanical systems, safety aspects and all requirements for making a
vessel fully seaworthy, taking advantage of fine and calm Antarctic
weather, to get the vessel going again.
Answering concerns voiced over the delay in the vessel's departure he
continued, “The Nisshin Maru had to pass all the necessary requirements
the skipper needed to be done before she could depart the Ross Sea, and we
need some more time for adjustment and testing of the Nisshin Maru’s
equipment. It has been our goal to get the Nisshin Maru underway as soon
as possible, but in a way that ensured the safety of everyone involved.”
“The decision to remain in the same position while the vessel was repaired
was made with the safety of the crew and scientists in mind,” Dr Hatanaka
said.
On accusations that the vessel represented a danger through instability or worsening weather,
and that
the ship would have to accept outside help, he said there was never any
indication that the Antarctic environment was in any way under threat from
the accident, "despite regular accusations to the contrary from Greenpeace
and the New Zealand Conservation Minister, Chris Carter."
“Minister Carter’s continued claims that ‘toxic’ chemicals could leak from
the ship and Greenpeace’s wild and slanted accusations that the damage was
too great to fix, that the vessel needed an immediate tow by them, or that
the engines were too damaged to work were all false then and remain false
now. The crew acted very responsibly and are to be congratulated for their
efforts in ensuring an excellent outcome.”
Dr Hatanaka said the ICR made regular public statements that the Nisshin
Maru would have been moved if it was required. “It was quite unfortunate
that both Greenpeace and Minister Carter did not sincerely take this into
account while, as a result, instilling the worst of fears into people."
adding they had received very many messages of support from the public.
Meanwhile one of the correspondents who has kept the media informed of
what has been happening on the Ross Sea, Greenpeace's web editor on board
the ESPERANZA, wrote in his blog, after hearing that the vessels would be
departing from the area:
"We're pretty unimpressed with how Japanese government officials in Tokyo
- and their PR spindoctor in New Zealand - have done their damndest to
trivialise the extent of what has truly been a serious situation here in
the Ross Sea. Since the fire last Thursday, they've failed to show
transparency - either with the rescue authorities or other governments,
about the extent of the fire, as well as the risks both to human life and
the Antarctic environment."
The whaling may or may not be over, but a war of words seems barely to
have begun.
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