Norwegian Honored For Sinking Of Whaler

An anti-whaling group has named the son of Norway’s most prominent whaler “Crewman of the Year” for accidentally sinking his family’s boat.

The 45-foot whaling boat Morild, owned by Steinar Bastesen, sank at its wharf in Bronnoysund, 430 miles north of Oslo, in November.

After a series of attacks on whaling boats, Norwegians immediately suspected sabotage. However, police concluded that the Morild sank because Bastesen’s 20-year-old son, Stein Eirik, forgot to close several valves.

So the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group, which has claimed responsibility for several attacks on whaling boats, honored the younger Bastesen, the Oslo newspaper Verdens Gang reported Tuesday.