Anti-whaling ship does a midnight flit

Authorities play the blame game
RAY SMUTS
CAPE TOWN maritime authorities are at odds as to who should shoulder the blame for the illegal nocturnal flit of the anti-whaling ship, the Farley Mowat. She made her escape between 22:00 and 03:00 on the night of June 15/16 by cleverly shielding herself between a giant oil vessel and an incoming ship while leaving port, so avoiding detection. Once clear of the port, she raced at full speed for international waters where South Africa has no jurisdiction. Before the vessel fled, she put in a request with the port authority to leave, but it was denied as she was still under detention by the South African Maritime Association (Samsa). The vessel is headed for Australia where she is expected in about two weeks, before heading back to Antarctica to defend the whales. She is credited with ambushing a number of Japanese whaling fleets on several occasions. Samsa and Transport Canada claimed the Farley Mowat was held because it was registered as a yacht, whereas it should in fact have been registered as a commercial ship. When negotiations with Samsa to secure her release came to nought, and there was no likelihood of a compromise, a decision to make a run for it was made.