Protest boat damaged in clash with whaling ship

A CONSERVATION group’s boat had its bow sheared off and was taking on water yesterday after it was struck by a Japanese whaling ship in the freezing waters of Antarctica, the group said.

The boat’s six crew were safely transferred to another of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s vessels, the newly commissioned Bob Barker. The boat is named for the American game show host who donated €3.5 million to buy it.

The clash was the most serious in the past several years, during which the Sea Shepherd has sent vessels into far-southern waters to try to harass the Japanese fleet into ceasing its annual whale hunt.