[quote=KneelbeforeZod!;17560]
Looks like she was near the Pentland Firth when this photo was taken.[/quote]
What Ship is that? Is that SSCS new ship? Or is is the “Steve Irwin” before it was painted
Ex SFPA island Class OPV ‘WESTRA’, decommissioned in 2003
[B]WAS THE “ROBERT HUNTER” IN BETWEEN …[/B]
[B]
[/B]
Commercial History ( [B]FROM LLOYD’S )[/B]
[B][/B]
<TABLE class=datagridindent id=CompGrid1 style=“BORDER-RIGHT: 0px inset; BORDER-TOP: 0px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 0px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px inset; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse” cellSpacing=0 rules=all border=0><TBODY><TR class=datagridheader><TD>Date</TD><TD>Name</TD><TD>Flag</TD><TD>Group Owner</TD><TD>Operator</TD><TD>Manager</TD><TD>Registered Owner</TD><TD>DOC</TD><TD>Price</TD></TR><TR class=datagridStyle><TD><NOBR>2007-12</NOBR></TD><TD>STEVE IRWIN</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridAltStyle><TD><NOBR>2007-09</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD>Netherlands</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridStyle><TD><NOBR>2006-11</NOBR></TD><TD>Robert Hunter</TD><TD></TD><TD>Unknown</TD><TD>Sea Shepherd UK</TD><TD>Sea Shepherd UK</TD><TD>Sea Shepherd UK</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridAltStyle><TD><NOBR>2006-10</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>Marine Scotland</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridStyle><TD><NOBR>2002-04</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>Marine Scotland (United Kingdom)</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridAltStyle><TD><NOBR>2001-01</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>Marine Scotland</TD><TD>Marine Scotland</TD><TD>Scotland Govt Scotland Mins</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridStyle><TD><NOBR>2000-00</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt Scotland</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridAltStyle><TD><NOBR>1999-03</NOBR></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt DAFS</TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt DAFS</TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt DAFS</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridStyle><TD><NOBR>1975-02</NOBR></TD><TD>Westra</TD><TD>United Kingdom</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=datagridAltStyle><TD><NOBR>Not recorded</NOBR< td></NOBR> <TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt</TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt Scotland</TD><TD>United Kingdom Govt Scotland</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[B]Sea Fever[/B]
I MUST go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea’s face, and a gray dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way, where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
[B]John Masefield[/B]
Looks like the Steve Irwin, pre-paint job and helo deck.
[quote=maritimekid;4598]Why the Pirate Flag?
are they trying to get shoot?[/quote]
As ussual, I am jumping late to discussion. Just checked the links on youtube, etc…
Being too much at sea lately - and did not watch much of discovery channel.
“Pirate flag” is modern day mith created by hollywood. Never used in hystory, or at least not in that way.
Today it’s called Jolly Roger.
Any way- it was used when Navy man-of-war had a succesfull kill at sea durin war operations.
The last time used was when British Nuclear Sub - succesfully sunk Argentinean cruiser “Belgrano” in Falkland war. After the kill, they hoisted the jolly roger (pirate flag) when entering back to home port.
Anyhow - raising / or lowering the vsls colors is an atribute to offical Navy of any country, and subject to code of conduct of the national Navy, or just their “unofficial costum” when jolly roger is concerned - no more then that. Boys will be boys - and they just want to make their succes public and known.
Similarly - US navy will hoist a broom on starboard halyard, after commisioning a new warship, as a sign of succesfull and clean “sweep” of the trials.
I don’t think that old day / or modern day pirates will “fly their colors” just to give an early notice to pottential prey. Pirate flag in this way is just a holywood fairy tale. The tradition of flying it is in the Navy… (british, at least)
Those guys - seashepherds - they are just making publicity out of their un-legal, para-piratical exploits - with pirate flag.
Anyway, piracy is internationally illegal, and any vsl flying such flag should be pursued by navy of any coastal state - even in international waters.
They are flying this - JUST FOR SHOW.
I just have seen on u-tube, the lowering of the boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua1JQkqU0DU
Lowering a boat on the side, while under way…
No forward painter.
Endangering the boat crew by drowning and hypothermia.
Master on deck with his mouth wide open (no commands isued), instead of being on the bridge, performing a manouvre and giving orders… (where captain is supposed to be)
This is the sorry case of poor and lousy seamanship, or none-at all, but unfortuantley a better part of un-informed world is watching and probably takes them as heroes… In my opinion endangering the people in such way is subjecy to criminal prosecution.
The point is - their sorry manouvers, deliberate collisions with other nations legally registered vsls on “scientific reaserch mission”, putting people at risk, their methods of close quarter approaches makes them liable to any legislative of any coastal state in the world.
NB - even the greenpiece sacked their captain… They obviously pursue different crewing policy. Their captain is just a maverick, marying a playboy model lucky enough to find investor (a discovery channel) to his childlish unresponsible enterprises with serious maritime legal implications.
They do not differ from pirates (whos flag they are flying), or street (sea) bums…
If we are talking legal precedents here:
What if some oil company send their reasaerch vessel, for oil or gas - those seashepherds are setting bad example and precendent how to fight against any competition legal enterprise at international waters with FULL IMPUNITY - for any opposite interest they may represent, such as competition company.
For example: BP sends their vsls to for oil reaserch in Arctic - Chevron sends their vessel to fight them at open sea wih same methods…
This is going back to middle ages and they should be stopped, like somalis.
Who can we contact to get this group stopped? I have been monitering them online and this December/January is going to be VERY dangerous
If they are doing it in international waters - nothing much.
The only authority to report them is the flag state of “Steve Irwin”. According to above post - it’s Netherland, and the owner is uk registered.
Furthermore, if I remember well, their captain said in an interview that the vessel is registered as yacht - which means many of the regs for ships including STCW do not apply for them.
So, if their ship does not enter their home territorial waters, or Netherlands warship doesn’t go after them - nothing much you can do.
Anyway - the answer to your question is:
- try to contact Dutch coast guard, or other Dutch authorities.
2): Pressure on animal planet to stop filming them, and financing them - but in my opinion this would have effect only in case when they manage to kill somebody of their own crew, or whaling crew. If a crewmember from whaler gets killed as a result of their action, or a whaling ship gets in distress afer they menaged to block the prop by the ropes - its act of piracy or therorism (international crime).`
The animal planet should not support loss of human life, or such activities.
The loss of life of their own crew should be subject to legal action by flag state - so we are back to point one, above. Flag state.
3)Or, the govt issuing the skipper / master licence to their captain - to revoke the licence. There is enough filmed evidence of their conduct - including collision with another vsl. Where capt Watson got his ticket - I dont know. So, report to govt issuing capt Watson ticket. But in taht case he could just hire another licensed skipper, and him to remain as passanger or advisor… Not much effect on the end.
Anyway - if you chek what the pirates are doing in Somalia, and international forces not being much effective - I doubt we can do much. Most probably we will see many more seasons of “whale wars”, and late retirement of their captain, rather then any legal action against him. My guess.
[I]“Or, the govt issuing the skipper / master licence to their captain - to revoke the licence. There is enough filmed evidence of their conduct - including collision with another vsl. Where their skipper got the ticket - I dont know.”[/I]
He has no license[I].:eek:[/I]
Then - one thing less to do. And he is also one step closer to piracy. We are now building up the case.
Where the vsl is stationed, or berthed?
In that case port state control can detain the vsl, on the grounds of the vsl being unmanned.
[quote=jolly;20490]
In that case port state control can detain the vsl, on the grounds of the vsl being unmanned.[/quote]
?? How is it unmanned?
If a skipper does not have a ticket, or anyone else on board - it is officially unamnned.
Each vessel must have enough of certified crew, according to flag state regulations.
On commercial vessel - there is a safe manning document issued by flag state with minimum manning requirements for that vessel: certified master, mate, chief eng, 2 ABs, cook, etc…
If you do not have enough of crew, as per safe manning - the vsl is unmanned and can be detained by: flag state, port state, coast guard, etc…
If “Steve Irwin” is registered as yacht - there are also some manning requirements, different from the commercial vessel, but similar thing must apply: the skipper or the captain MUST BE certified. If not - he can not take to the sea…
The same thing is with a car: you can not drive the car withou driving license.
I think the Steve Irwin is registered in the Netherlands as a Fishery Support Vessel. According to the New Yorker article Neptune Navy, as of 2007 Watson does not have a license. Malcom Holland who is listed in Wikipedia as “quartermaster” apparently does have a license, he may be the legal master, a so-called “paper captain”
It is a yacht. It does not require a licensed crew, it does not have to meet SOLAS or the International Load Line Convention requirements; MARPOL, etc.
I wonder if the Discovery Channel would be liable should there be any damage to the Japanese vessels. That might be something that their corporate legal folks might need to be made aware of. Then again, thay have probably alread thought of that and put as much into their contract wording. Not that it would stop most of the lawyers I work with.
some other perspectives might be “who underwrites their insurances” or who sponsors them thru the media of advertising??
This is what I found, the same info has been posted on one of these WW threads:
IMO number : 7340370
Call Sign : GUMF
Gross tonnage : 1017
Type of ship : Fishing Support Vessel
Year of build : 1975
Flag : Netherlands.
Also yachts over 24 meters may have meet manning requirements as well.
according to the sea shepard site…the dutch may be trying to “deregister” the steve irwin…soon may be the only flag she will be able to fly is the “bones”!!
[quote=Kennebec Captain;20505]This is what I found, the same info has been posted on one of these WW threads:
IMO number : 7340370
Call Sign : GUMF
Gross tonnage : 1017
Type of ship : Fishing Support Vessel
Year of build : 1975
Flag : Netherlands.
Also yachts over 24 meters may have meet manning requirements as well.[/quote]
Commercial yachts, that is. They could claim that the Vessel is not engaged in trade and therefore, not a commercial yacht and therefore not subject to any international conventions.
If it is registered as a fisheries support vessel then that is what it is. End of discussion.
Even a private yacht is subject to:
Marpol I IV V and VI
COLREGS
SOLAS General I and V
International Tonnage Convention for yachts >24m in length
Plus whatever other certificates the flag state deems necessary for the size, type, and area of operation.
[quote=Steamer;20515]If it is registered as a fisheries support vessel then that is what it is. End of discussion.
Even a private yacht is subject to:
Marpol I IV V and VI
COLREGS
SOLAS General I and V
International Tonnage Convention for yachts >24m in length
Plus whatever other certificates the flag state deems necessary for the size, type, and area of operation.[/quote]
As per last: the area of operation. They have sattelite comms. They should be in A3 area - for GMDSS, they should be certified as GOC, at least. They also have a call sign: GUMF. (registered, and should need licenced operator)
(Again, I am not here 100% sure, as this is yacht and subject to flag regs)
The rest:
Marpol I IV V and VI
COLREGS
SOLAS General I and V
International Tonnage Convention for yachts >24m in length
Even their captain says the crew is not proffesional. Everybody sees they are even incompetent.
To comply with all above rules - it takes profi crew, for maintenance and record keeping as evidence of compliance.
In my opinion, if they get serious PSC or CG inspection they will easily find something to detain them.
But the best chance:
Many ships have been detained for unsettled debts, or damages they create.
Those guys made damage on the whaler, and they could be prosecuted by some authority, arbitrary court, etc… to setlle the damage.
I am only not sure if they can isuue an internationall warrant to detain their ship.
In modern days, when collision occurs - it is always split responsibilities in percentage between the involved vessels. It should be the case with them as well.
GUYS:
On this forum there is a subforum for Coast Guard. Why don’t we ask them what they could do about them, in case Steve Irwin gets to US waters?
They could give us a good idea, at least.