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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Sea Shepherd anti-whaling ship severely damaged by wave
2011-12-29
ANTI-WHALING activist group Sea Shepherd has reported that its scout vessel Brigitte Bardot was struck by a wave that has cracked the hull and severely damaged one of the pontoons on the vessel.

Captain Paul Watson, onboard the Sea Shepherd flagship Steve Irwin, said that they are fighting heavy seas to reach the position of the Brigitte Bardot.

It is expected to take twenty hours to reach the damaged vessel which is 2414 kilometres southwest of Fremantle, Western Australia.

Brigitte Bardot Captain Jonathan Miles Renecle of South Africa was pursuing the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru in six meter swells when the wave slammed into the port side of the vessel cracking the hull. The crack has been getting wider as the seas continue to pound the vessel.

"This is disappointing but these are hostile seas and we have always been prepared for situations like this," Said Captain Watson. "Right now the safety of my crew on the Brigitte Bardot is our priority and we intend to reach the crew and then do what we can to save our ship."
I am so filled with conflicting emotions right now.
The conflicting emotions being whether to point and laugh or snicker unkindly.
The ancient Greeks kept a wary eye out for Nemesis, the goddess who struck down those filled with hubris.
Posted by:DarthVader

#11  Watson is not a captain.
PAUL WATSON video file.
Posted by: tipper   2011-12-29 23:33  

#10  Oh, I'm not criticizing, Pappy, you nailed it.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2011-12-29 22:06  

#9  Poor shiphandling to take a vessel "not designed for those seas" into those, uh, seas...

Well, yes. Still, there are also ways to reduce the sea effects.

Sea Shepherd has long had a reputation for less than stellar seamanship; even recently utilizing the services of a former USN officer hasn't helped much.
Posted by: Pappy   2011-12-29 21:44  

#8  Nemesis: Divine retribution delivered in the person of an appropriate agent.
Posted by: mojo   2011-12-29 16:22  

#7  
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia   2011-12-29 15:24  

#6  I'll bet they hit a whale and are too embarrassed to admit it.
Posted by: Hellfish   2011-12-29 14:37  

#5  activist group Sea Shepherd has reported that its scout vessel Brigitte Bardot

Maybe these guys are not all bad.


Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-12-29 14:35  

#4  Origins of the 'MV Brigitte Bardot' here.

Ship was originally designed for racing apparently. MM is correct that it doesn't belong in these waters.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2011-12-29 14:26  

#3  Awwwwwww, ain't that just too bad....
Posted by: Barbara   2011-12-29 13:39  

#2  Poor shiphandling to take a vessel "not designed for those seas" into those, uh, seas...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2011-12-29 13:03  

#1  Poor shiphandling in a vessel not designed for those seas.
Posted by: Pappy   2011-12-29 12:59  

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