Arne had Namhee repeat that Greenpeace is a peaceful organization and that we will do nothing to harm or endanger the whalers. When asked, the captain of the Nisshin-maru refused to promise us the same. Meanwhile, Thilo Bode, director of Greenpeace International was preparing a letter of protest to the Institute for Cetacean Research, the Japanese organization that oversees the whaling program. Today the whaling fleet, which is bankrolled by the Japanese government, showed that they have no more concern for marine navigation laws then they do for the Law of the Sea, which they are violating by whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, and the damage to the Arctic Sunrise was all above the waterline.
Inspections continue, but the chief engineer is sure the hull is remains sound.
We did not see any real damage to the Nisshin-maru, except maybe a few small dents. The rest of today will be taken up with repairs to the Arctic Sunrise - although we have no intention of letting the whaling fleet escape. The Arctic Sunrise is a tough ship with a good crew. Today's incident has done nothing to damage our resolve. On the contrary, we are more determined than ever to stop Japan's illegal whaling program.