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SOUTHERN OCEAN (9 Jan 2006) -- Greenpeace has accused the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru of deliberately ramming its boat, the Arctic Sunrise, in the Southern Ocean before steaming off at high speed.
The anti-whaling activists say they tried to contact the Japanese whaling boat shortly before they clashed.
However, a statement from the Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research says the Nisshin Maru was deliberately rammed by Greenpeace while cargo was being transferred.
Greenpeace says none of the 25 crew on board the Arctic Sunrise were hurt and the boat is still seaworthy, despite receiving some damage.
Greenpeace expedition leader Shane Rattenbury says his captain tried unsuccessfully to contact the captain of the whaling boat.
"We radioed them when we realised they were on a collision course with us," he said.
"My captain spoke to them over the bridge, we received no reply and we've had no further communication since.
"After the incident the Japanese ship turned and headed off directly north at high speed and sailed straight away from us." Greenpeace says the Arctic Sunrise had been observing activists onboard inflatable rafts before the collision.
Those activists had been painting the words "whale meat from sanctuary" on the side of a Japanese supply vessel.
Greenpeace has been chasing the Japanese fleet for three weeks to try and stop whales being harpooned for what is called "scientific research".
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