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Japan ship fire 'under control' Japan ship fire 'under control'
(about 4 hours later)
A fire that broke out on a Japanese whaling ship near Antarctica has been brought under control, Japanese officials in Tokyo have said.A fire that broke out on a Japanese whaling ship near Antarctica has been brought under control, Japanese officials in Tokyo have said.
The blaze on board the Nisshin Maru took hold at about 0500 local time (1600 GMT Wednesday).The blaze on board the Nisshin Maru took hold at about 0500 local time (1600 GMT Wednesday).
About 120 crew members were taken off the vessel but 30 stayed behind to tackle the fire while one is still unaccounted for, officials said.About 120 crew members were taken off the vessel but 30 stayed behind to tackle the fire while one is still unaccounted for, officials said.
There are fears the vessel could cause some environmental damage.There are fears the vessel could cause some environmental damage.
The cause of the fire was still being investigated, the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) in Tokyo said.The cause of the fire was still being investigated, the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) in Tokyo said.
It said that presently there was no danger of fuel or oil from the vessel being leaked into the Ross Sea.It said that presently there was no danger of fuel or oil from the vessel being leaked into the Ross Sea.
The Nisshin Maru fire occurred with the vessel in the Ross SeaThe Nisshin Maru fire occurred with the vessel in the Ross Sea
New Zealand maritime officials - whose country is responsible for search and rescue operations in the area - said the blaze had nothing to do with whaling protesters in the area. New Zealand maritime officials - whose country is responsible for search and rescue operations in the area - said the blaze had nothing to do with whaling protesters in the area but was possibly caused by a mechanical fault.
Instead they think it was caused by a mechanical fault.
Meanwhile, pro-whaling countries have ended a conference in Japan by accusing anti-whaling nations of "imperialism".Meanwhile, pro-whaling countries have ended a conference in Japan by accusing anti-whaling nations of "imperialism".
Japan had called the conference with the declared aim of easing divisions within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), but major anti-whaling countries including Britain, Australia and the US stayed away.Japan had called the conference with the declared aim of easing divisions within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), but major anti-whaling countries including Britain, Australia and the US stayed away.
Environmental concernEnvironmental concern
The alarm was sounded on board the Nisshin Maru - an 8,000-tonne processing ship - just before daybreak. The alarm was sounded on board the Nisshin Maru - an 8,000-tonne processing ship - just before daybreak on Thursday.
THE LEGALITIES OF WHALING Objection - A country formally objects to the IWC moratorium, declaring itself exemptScientific - A nation issues unilateral 'scientific permits'; any IWC member can do thisAboriginal - IWC grants permits to indigenous groups for subsistence foodTHE LEGALITIES OF WHALING Objection - A country formally objects to the IWC moratorium, declaring itself exemptScientific - A nation issues unilateral 'scientific permits'; any IWC member can do thisAboriginal - IWC grants permits to indigenous groups for subsistence food
About 120 members of its crew were evacuated to three other ships in the whaling fleet, while 30 sailors stayed to fight the fire. About 120 members of its crew were evacuated to three other ships in the whaling fleet, while 30 people stayed to fight the fire.
It is not clear whether the missing crew member was caught up in the blaze or fell overboard into the icy waters.It is not clear whether the missing crew member was caught up in the blaze or fell overboard into the icy waters.
The Japanese whaling fleet has been pursued by activists, protesting at plans to hunt 850 minke whales and 10 fin whales.The Japanese whaling fleet has been pursued by activists, protesting at plans to hunt 850 minke whales and 10 fin whales.
In recent days, protesters from the Sea Shepherd environmental group have clashed with the whalers, and thrown acid and other objects on the ships to try to stop them carrying out their hunt.In recent days, protesters from the Sea Shepherd environmental group have clashed with the whalers, and thrown acid and other objects on the ships to try to stop them carrying out their hunt.
New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter said that while the safety of the whaling ship's crew was the top priority, "we are also gravely concerned about the environmental risk to Antarctica's pristine environment, if the ship is sufficiently damaged to begin leaking oil".New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter said that while the safety of the whaling ship's crew was the top priority, "we are also gravely concerned about the environmental risk to Antarctica's pristine environment, if the ship is sufficiently damaged to begin leaking oil".
Earlier this week, Japanese fisheries officials described members of the Sea Shepherd group as terrorists, after one of their vessels collided with a whaling boat in the southern ocean.Earlier this week, Japanese fisheries officials described members of the Sea Shepherd group as terrorists, after one of their vessels collided with a whaling boat in the southern ocean.
After that incident activists threatened to ram the Nisshin Maru to prevent whales being hauled on board for processing.After that incident activists threatened to ram the Nisshin Maru to prevent whales being hauled on board for processing.
But the activists' ships were at least two or three days' sailing distance away from the whalers when the fire occurred.But the activists' ships were at least two or three days' sailing distance away from the whalers when the fire occurred.
"We haven't had contact with the vessel for about three days now and have been heading back to port because we are short of fuel," Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson told Australian TV."We haven't had contact with the vessel for about three days now and have been heading back to port because we are short of fuel," Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson told Australian TV.
Secret ballots
In Tokyo, the three-day conference attended mainly by pro-whaling nations ended with a condemnation of whaling opponents within the IWC.
Meat from Japan's scientific whaling programme is sold for food
Anti-whaling nations were accused of refusing to enter into a good-faith debate on the issue of lifting a moratorium on commercial whaling.
"Imposing moral and ethical judgements that affect our right to use resources in spite of scientific evidence is imperialism," a summary of the conference said, according to the Associated Press.
Conference members came up with several suggestions to submit to the next IWC meeting in May. They include holding secret ballots, saying public voting causes confrontation between members, not consensus.
Japan has tried to introduce secret ballots on many previous occasions. Environmental groups oppose the move because they say governments could not then be held to account for their votes.