Activist illegally boards Japanese vessel

Activist illegally boards Japanese vessel

The skipper of the former Ady Gil, Mr Peter Bethune of New Zealand, has illegally boarded the Shonan Maru No.2, a vessel working alongside the Japanese Antarctic Research Program (JARPA II) in the Southern Ocean.

Mr Bethune boarded the vessel at 0900hrs (JST) (1300 hrs NZDT) February 15, 2010.

This is a similar publicity stunt executed by Sea Shepherd two years ago when two activists boarded the Yushin Maru No. 2 and, using plastic ties, handcuffed themselves to the side of the vessel. Those two activists were eventually passed back to Sea Shepherd with the assistance of the Australian Government vessel, the Oceanic Viking.

In this latest incident, there is no vessel available to act as a go between to return Mr Bethune.

Further information will be made available later.

ENDS

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