From: Greenpeace via Jym Dyer <jym@mica.berkeley.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive,alt.activism,talk.environment
Subject: NEWS: 2nd Greenpeace Ship Following Japanese Plutonium Freighter
Followup-To: talk.environment
Date: 12 Nov 1992 17:19:55 GMT
Organization: The Naughty Peahen Party Line
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu

[Greenpeace Press Release from Environet -- Redistribute Freely]

SECOND GREENPEACE SHIP NOW FOLLOWING JAPANESE PLUTONIUM FREIGHTER

AMSTERDAM -- 9 November, 1992 -- As the plutonium freighter,
Akatsuki Maru, made its way through the Bay of Biscay near
Spain, Greenpeace revealed that it would use an additional ship,
the Smit New York, in its bid to follow the deadly cargo back to
Japan.

Greenpeace said that the Smit New York has been shadowing its
ship SOLO throughout its pursuit of the plutonium freighter
since Saturday. Captain Harm Jongman and his crew witnessed the
Japanese plutonium escort vessel's harassment of SOLO throughout
Saturday night and its subsequent violent ramming of SOLO on
Sunday morning.

Jongman, 20 years a skipper with the prestigious Dutch company
Smit Wys, said the Shikishima was clearly in breach of maritime
laws in its dangerous manoevering near the SOLO which was
peacefully following the Akatsuki Maru at a safe distance.

Greenpeace has secured the services of the Smit New York due to
the extreme requirements of the plutonium freighter's perilous
voyage. As the freighter may travel a route of over 20,000 miles
through some of the most dangerous seas in the world, Greenpeace
had to choose a very tough ship. The Smit New York, an ocean-
going salvage tug, has extensive fuel and provision capacity and
the capacity to weather the most extreme weather and sea
conditions.

"We are committed to following this outrageous voyage in
order to notify countries along the still secret route," said
Greenpeace's Damon Moglen. "The 1.7 tonne shipment represents
an unprecedented threat to the environment and human health
around the world."

The Smit New York, a salvage tug and the sister ship of
Greenpeace's SOLO, is owned by the Dutch salvage company,
Smit Wys.

In other developments today, Greenpeace said it was formally
notifying the Japanese Government that it holds it liable for
all the consequences of Sunday morning's ramming which resulted
in some damage to SOLO.

Greenpeace sent a letter to the Japanese embassy in The Hague
holding the Japanese Government fully responsible for the
incident.  This notification is the first step towards legal
action against the Japanese Government.

"We're willing to produce all the evidence relating to this
incident," said Greenpeace International lawyer, Duncan Currie.
"We hope the Japanese are equally willing."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Technical details Smit New York :
Motor Tug
length o.a.         67.50m
breadth mld.        14.20m
Depth                6.90m
Draft                5.80m
Bruto tonnage       1872 tonnes

Year of construction : 1977
Identical sister ship of MV Solo

This 16,000 ihp (horse-power) ocean-going salvage tug has been
designed especially to perform towages with very heavy objects
over long distances and for salvage assistance to ships in
distress.

2. Smit New York has a crew of 20 people including four
Greenpeace campaign people.
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive