Report blames both captains for sinking of the Ady Gil in the Antarctic

26/11/2010 00:50:22 Maritime New Zealand report concludes Captain Pete Bethune's negligence contributed to collision
November 2010. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) recently issued its final Investigation Report following a 10-month investigation into the January 6, 2010 ramming of the Ady Gil by the Japanese whaling vessel, Shonan Maru No. 2.
In this report, MNZ concluded that: "The master of the Shonan Maru No. 2 and the master [Captain Pete Bethune] of the Ady Gil both departed from the prescribed International Collision Regulations and engaged in conduct that resulted in the collision."

Shonan Maru No. 2 had an obligation to keep clear
Under international maritime law, the Shonan Maru No. 2, as the overtaking vessel, had an obligation to keep clear of the Ady Gil, the stand-on vessel, and it unequivocally failed to do so. Similarly, the master of the Ady Gil, Captain Bethune, had a responsibility to take action to remove his vessel from a dangerous close quarters situation and had ample opportunity to avoid the collision, but failed to do so.

The Ady Gil sinking after the Collission Remarkable coincidence Sea Shepherd have released this report at virtually the same time that Pete Bethune has  launched a new marine conservation charity called Earthrace. Pete Bethune was expelled from Sea Shepherd a bow and some arrows were discovered in the wreckage of the Ady Gil.

Captain Bethune negligent
The MNZ report concludes that the collision could have been avoided were it not for the actions and inactions of the Ady Gil's master, Captain Bethune. Captain Bethune's negligence is referenced in more than a dozen paragraphs in the report, including, but not limited to, the following excerpts:

• 185. By deciding to "sit there and take it," the Ady Gil master intentionally chose not to take any action to avoid the close quarters situation.
• 203. Good practice would have seen the master of the Ady Gil instruct the helmsman to take appropriate action once it became apparent that a close quarters situation was developing with the Shonan Maru No. 2. The failure to do so was intentional. It continued until the collision.
• In addition, MNZ concluded that the Ady Gil lacked effective manoeuvrability, a hazard which was exacerbated by Captain Bethune's failure to adequately make the vessel safely ready for such manoeuvrability in clearly tense conditions. According to MNZ, the inexperienced crew members of the Ady Gil were not responsible for failing to adequately anticipate the danger from the approaching Shonan Maru No. 2; this responsibility rested with Captain Bethune.

Captain Bethune failed to act properly
Essentially, MNZ's analysis of the navigation equipment on board reveals that Captain Bethune failed to make the vessel safe. He did not have effective radar or lookout in place, he did not adequately anticipate or act quickly enough during the overtaking of the Shonan Maru No. 2, and he did not alert or provide the helmsman with sufficient time to react and avoid a collision.

Captain Bethune's intentional decision to take no evasive action-and his failure to alert the helmsman of the imminent danger-nearly cost the lives of several crew members.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was shocked and deeply saddened to discover that Captain Bethune was responsible to a significant degree for the loss of his own vessel. The organization is thankful that no serious injuries were sustained as a result of the collision and that its 30+ year record of returning its crew members safely home after each campaign remains in tact and unblemished.