It is not often Japan's whalers agree with their bitter enemies, the anti-whaling activists of Sea Shepherd, but in this case they do.
With Australia's Southern Ocean patrol ship, Ocean Protector, languishing in Fremantle, both sides of the whaling argument have called for the big red ship to monitor the conflict, which broke out again in Antarctic waters this week.
While the two sides were steaming east off the Australian Antarctic Territory yesterday, Ocean Protector was moored in Fremantle, alongside the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin, which had tied up to refuel.
According to the Fremantle Port Authority, the 8300-tonne Ocean Protector arrived from Darwin and was due to leave yesterday for 'sea duties'. The Steve Irwin, after escorting the storm-damaged Brigitte Bardot to safety, was preparing to head for the Antarctic, hoping to avoid the whalers' security ship, Shonan Maru No. 2.
(The Age)
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