A Maritime New Zealand investigation has found fault with both parties leading up to the collision between a Japanese whaling vessel and anti-whaling vessel Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean earlier this year.
Biodiesel-powered Ady Gil was destroyed after colliding with the Japanese whaling security boat Shonan Maru 2 on January 20.
A Maritime New Zealand report released today found both masters were responsible for contributing to and failing to respond appropriately to the “close quarters” situation that lead to the collision.
“This goes against established international maritime anti-collision rules and expected standards of good seamanship,” the report says.
While the report states no evidence suggested either party deliberately caused the collision, it points out earlier events between whalers and the Sea Shepherd protestors “contributed to a tense operating environment and probable uncertainty over each others’ intentions”.
The report also points out the Shonan Maru 2 – as the give way vessel – held initial responsibility for keeping clear of the Ady Gil.
“He had ample opportunity to avoid the close quarters situation that subsequently developed, but failed to do so,” the report states.
Once the close quarters situation was apparent, the master of the Ady Gil, Pete Bethune, failed to take appropriate evasive action, “choosing instead to maintain his course and speed, which allowed the close quarters situation to develop into a collision risk”.
Eye-witness interviews, GPS and voyage data recordings, video footage and photographs were all used in the completion of Maritime NZ’s report.
Japanese authorities refused to conduct interviews with the captain and crew of the Shonan Maru 2 as part of Maritime NZ’s investigation.
3 News