Watch: Activist Vessel Intentionally Hits Ship Of World’s Largest Krill Harvester In Antarctic Waters

collision — Image Credits: Captain Paul Watson Foundation

An environmental activist vessel operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation collided with a Norwegian krill fishing ship in Antarctic waters on March 31.

The vessel Bandero, a 65-metre ship, struck the stern of the Norway-flagged trawler Antarctic Sea, which is owned by Aker QRILL Company. The incident took place more than 500 miles (805 km) from the southern tip of Argentina.

Aker QRILL said the impact caused minor damage to the hull near the stern, close to where the vessel’s diesel fuel tank is located.

The company said the situation could have been more serious if the steel plates had been damaged further, as it might have led to a fuel spill.

Nearly 60 crew members were on board, including people from Norway, Ukraine and the Philippines. No one was injured.

Video footage shared by the company shows the Bandero moving slowly toward the fishing vessel before making contact with its port side at a slight angle.

Before the collision, activists had also tried to interfere with fishing operations involving another Aker vessel, Antarctic Endurance, by attempting to damage its nets.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation first said the incident was accidental, but later issued another statement confirming that the contact was intentional.

The group said it had given warnings before taking action and described the move as a way to disrupt krill fishing activities.

The foundation said krill are a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and are the main food source for whales, seals and penguins. It argued that large-scale krill harvesting is harmful to marine life.

Aker QRILL disagreed with this, stating that its operations take only a small share of available krill stocks and are carried out under international rules set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

The company criticised the action and said it would take legal steps. Authorities in Argentina and Chile were informed, and one of them is sending a vessel to the area near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Aker representatives said the incident put both the crew and the environment at risk, especially because of how close the impact was to the fuel tank.

Paul Watson defended the action, saying it was a controlled move meant to send a message without causing harm.

The incident is part of a campaign called “Operation Krill Wars,” launched by the foundation to stop krill fishing in Antarctic waters. The Bandero, with 28 crew members, had sailed from Australia earlier this year for this mission.

Krill fishing in Antarctica has been increasing, with last season recording the highest catch. Fishing had to be stopped early after reaching the annual limit of 620,000 tonnes.

Aker QRILL is the world’s largest krill harvesting company, responsible for more than half of the global catch. Krill is used in aquaculture feed, pet food, bait and health supplements.

The case is expected to be reviewed under international maritime law, which requires vessels to keep a safe distance while operating at sea.

References: Reuters, AP News

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