02/23/2008

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Hot Pursuit in a Frozen Sea

Sea Shepherd Hot on the Tail of Japanese Harpooners

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in hot on the tail of the Yushin Maru No.2 and is chasing the ship through a snow storm through an obstacle course of icebergs.

"We have them on the run," said Captain Paul Watson. "The Yushin Maru is only a mile in front of us and running at full speed. The Fukuyoshi Maru No. 68 which carries armed Japanese Coast Guard officers is one mile behind the Yushin Maru and closing aggressively"

This chase is taking place well inside Australian Antarctic Territorial waters. The position at 1530 Hours (Melbourne time)(0345 G.M.T.) was 62 Degrees 30 Minutes South and 096 Degrees 58 Minutes East.

The Steve Irwin is preparing a boarding party to deliver a warrant ordering the Yushin Maru No. 2 and the other Japanese whaling vessels operating illegally in the Australian Whale Sanctuary to surrender themselves to the nearest Australian port.