Anti-whaling group’s craft sinks

CANBERRA, Australia – The high-tech anti-whaling boat damaged in a collision with a Japanese whaler sank off Antarctica today, but posed no threat to the pristine environment, a conservation group said.

The bow of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s Ady Gil was sheared off Wednesday in a collision with a far larger Japanese whaling ship, in the most serious clash in what has become an annual confrontation off the frozen continent.

The whaler, Shonan Maru No. 2, suffered no apparent damage. Both sides blame the other for the collision, which occurred as the Ady Gil harassed the Japanese fleet.

Amid fears the Ady Gil was sinking, a second Sea Shepherd ship, the Bob Barker, began towing it Thursday toward a French research base 185 miles to the south, from where it was be shipped to Australia.

But the tow rope snapped after only 23 miles because the Ady Gil was filling with water, said Peter Hammarsedt, the tow boat’s first officer.

The Bob Barker left the Ady Gil to sink and resumed its pursuit of the Japanese whalers.