Greenpeace Statement on the Departure of the Disabled Whaling Ship Nisshin Maru

Earlier, the Nisshin Maru disengaged from the two ships she had been tethered to for the past nine days and sailed for two miles at speeds of up to 12 knots. She then stopped. The expedition leader also informed the Esperanza that the whole fleet is currently being re-fuelled in preparation to leave.

Greenpeace is relieved that after nine days the whaling factory ship and the rest of the fleet is finally leaving the pristine environment of the Southern Ocean. The Esperanza will escort them until they are out of Antarctic waters.

However, the international environmental organisation strongly condemned the way that Japanese government officials in Tokyo have covered up the gravity of the situation. Since the fire last Thursday, they have refused to be transparent with rescue authorities and other governments about the extent of the fire and the possible risks to life and the environment. Indeed they have publicly stated they hope to continue whaling.

"Continuing to bring vessels to the Southern Ocean not only directly threatens the whale populations through the hunt, but also poses an unacceptable risk to Antarctica and the marine environment," said Karli Thomas, Expedition Leader on board the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. "If they simply sail out of Antarctica, we will escort them and continue to offer assistance. However, if they attempt to start whaling again then we will take peaceful direct action to stop the hunt."

The departure of the Nisshin Maru from the area must be the last time a whaling ship is seen in the Southern Ocean, not only because of their whaling programme, but also because of the unacceptable risks to the environment and marine life. This is the second fire that has broken out on the Nisshin Maru - the first was in 1998. A single hulled tanker, the Oriental Bluebird, sailing under a Panamanian flag of convenience, is re-fuelling the fleet, none of the whaling fleet vessels are ice class, despite routinely operating in icy conditions and the Japanese government does not file an environmental impact assessment when the whaling fleet operates in Antarctica. While there is no legal obligation to do this, as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, the Japanese government does have an obligation to follow the spirit of the international agreement and their whaling operation shatters both the spirit and intent of the Treaty.

Antarctica is a global commons - the responsibility of all governments to protect for the good of humanity (1). Greenpeace calls on all signatories to the Antarctic Treaty and members of the International Whaling Commission to work at the highest political level to ensure this is the last season that a whaling fleet comes to Antarctica.