Sea Shepherd

The Japanese whaling harpoon vessel the Yushin Maru 3 has rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Bob Barker about 180 miles off Cape Darnley in the Australian Antarctic Territory. The ramming penetrated the Bob Barker's hull creating a 3-foot long 4-inch deep gash in the mid starboard side of the Sea Shepherd vessel above the waterline. The Yushin Maru suffered minor damage to its hand rail and hull. No crew from either ship were injured.

Related: Sea Shepherd finds Whalers as Greens pressure Government on whaling spy flights

Sea Shepherd lodged on Friday writs to sue the crew of Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 for piracy in the Dutch court system for threatening the lives of the six crew members of the Ady Gil and destroying their vessel. Conservation pirates suing pirates of profit and environmental slaughter and destruction.

Other News: Bethune files for arrest of Japanese Captain | Ady Gil commits to fundraising for a new Ady Gil | Bob Brown serves $2million demand on Japan | Australian Government delays legal action decision until after IWC meeting in June | New Video from Ady Gil - final 3 minutes before ramming | How Whaling is Illegal

Yesterday was a hectic day in Commonwealth Bay, near Antarctica, in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Ady Gil, while stationary, was puposefully rammed at speed by the Japanese whaling security vessel, the Shonan Maru 2. And the Japanese whaling fleet, and the world discovered Sea Shepherds surprise new conservation ship, the Bob Baker, an ex-Norwegian Antarctic ice-class whaling vessel that was bought in 2009 and secretly refitted in South Africa.

Updates: Ady Gil sinks, Sea Shepherd pursuing Whaling Fleet | Sea Shepherd sues Japanese whalers for Piracy in Dutch Court | Real reasons for weak Australian Government response | Legality of Whaling | Legal action over spy flights

The Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin has been followed for the last 3 weeks by a security vessel/harpoon ship called the Shonan Maru 2. When on Tuesday the Steve Irwin docked in Hobart she was followed right up to the Australian EEZ by this whaling vessel. It is thought the Shonan maru 2 is still lurking offshore. A small group have decided to hunt the whale hunters just outside the Australian EEZ and have taken their boat to search for the lurking Shonan Maru 2. These people are not linked to any conservation group and are entirely self funded.