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ProgressiveProfessor

(22,144 posts)

12. Not quite that severe IIRC

Wed Feb 27, 2013, 04:06 AM

Feb 2013

A vessel needs to fly the flag of a recognized nation or else it can be stopped, boarded, searched, and even scuttled. SSCS/Watson has lost national registry previously and works hard not to lose it again on their ships. It was covered in an early episode of Whale Wars. IIRC that is one of the reasons they use RIBs and not their main ship for attacking the whalers.

As long as it is operating under a nation's flag, technically it is not a pirate and permission is needed from that nation before boarding or taking other action.

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US court brands whale activists Sea Shepherd 'pirates' [View all] The Straight Story Feb 2013 OP

How the hell could they have gotten that idea? Bonobo Feb 2013 #1

Tokyo must have bribed some people. DonCoquixote Feb 2013 #2

A "heritage" of fifty years ago Scootaloo Feb 2013 #3

tell that to the judges CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #21

Related Thread ProgressiveProfessor Feb 2013 #4

Thanks for the link The Straight Story Feb 2013 #5

Does this mean that legally, the US Navy can take action against them? TheMightyFavog Feb 2013 #6

The JMSDF could do what you pointed out and more under the LOS ProgressiveProfessor Feb 2013 #9

Doesn't the LOS give pretty well much any navy in the world carte blanche to shoot pirates on sight? TheMightyFavog Feb 2013 #11

Not quite that severe IIRC ProgressiveProfessor Feb 2013 #12

Japan would more likely use their coast guard instead of Navy gejohnston Feb 2013 #15

Y'know theKed Feb 2013 #19

are they murdering women and kids with drone attacks? nt msongs Feb 2013 #7

+1 woo me with science Feb 2013 #17

Pirates. Really? Pirates? lonestarnot Feb 2013 #8

SSCS has pretty well shredded the LOS ProgressiveProfessor Feb 2013 #10

Thanks for those acronyms. lonestarnot Feb 2013 #13

I'm so glad I'll never need another security clearance NightWatcher Feb 2013 #14

If the Sea Shepherds are pirates (my ass!), the whalers are murderers! Bake Feb 2013 #16

If Sea Shepherd used DEADLY force, all bets would be off. TheMightyFavog Feb 2013 #20

You are quite right of course. Bake Feb 2013 #22

Capt Watson has a response: me b zola Feb 2013 #18