Reviews & Ratings for the Xintian-30

In a notable ruling, a US court has categorized the environmental organization Sea Shepherd as 'pirates.' This decision was handed down by Judge Alex Kozinski, who condemned the group's 'aggressive and high-profile attacks' on Japan's whaling fleet, emphasizing the risk posed to lives during these confrontations. For years, Sea Shepherd, based in the United States, has actively pursued Japanese whalers, aiming to disrupt their notorious annual hunts. A long-standing maritime conflict has unfolded between the two parties, with both sides accusing each other of causing collisions and inflicting damage at sea. Recently, three Sea Shepherd vessels have been embroiled in a tense standoff and confrontations with the Japanese fleet in the frigid Southern Ocean. Their primary objective has been to block these vessels from refueling at a tanker, recognized as the Sun Laurel. This week, both factions released video evidence purporting to show the other intentionally ramming their ships, escalating the ongoing maritime dispute.

On February 20, 2013, the South Korean tanker Sun Laurel was struck by the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru, leading to significant safety concerns in the perilous waters of the Southern Ocean. Following the incident, the Sun Laurel was monitored and escorted northward by the Sea Shepherd fleet due to the loss of crucial emergency life-saving equipment. The Nisshin Maru's aggressive maneuvering sent the Sea Shepherd vessel Bob Barker into a precarious position, resulting in the Bob Barker being wedged between the Nisshin Maru and the Sun Laurel. The situation escalated when the Nisshin Maru further collided with the Sun Laurel’s portside stern, resulting in the destruction of their life raft and the davit needed for launching additional life-saving equipment. To add to the chaos, Nisshin Maru then struck the Bob Barker again, causing the loss of one of their radars and all of their masts. The incidents have raised significant questions regarding maritime safety and fishing practices in the region. For further details, you can view visual reports at the following links: [Delo.si](http://www.delo.si/novice/svet/nov-morski-spopad-med-kitolovkami-in-morskimi-pastirji.html), [AD.nl](http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/5596/Planet/article/detail/3396983/2013/02/20/Japanse-walvisjager-valt-schepen-Sea-Shepherd-aan.dhtml), and [Beach Carolina](http://beachcarolina.com/2013/02/20/nisshin-maru-rams-s-korean-fuel-tanker-sss-sam-simin-sss-steve-irwin-and-sss-bob-barker/#).

In a tense maritime encounter, the Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, rammed two vessels associated with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, namely the SSS Bob Barker and SSS Steve Irwin. The incident occurred while the Bob Barker and Steve Irwin were positioned behind another ship, the Sun Laurel, with the former on the starboard side and the latter on the port side. During this confrontation, the Shonan Maru No. 2, also part of the whaling fleet, issued a warning over the loudspeaker, instructing the Sea Shepherd's vessel, SSS Sam Simon, which was operating in the Australian Antarctic Territory, to vacate the area under Japanese government orders. The situation escalated when crew members aboard the Nisshin Maru launched concussion grenades at the Bob Barker and Steve Irwin. Captain Peter Hammarstedt of the Bob Barker communicated directly with the Nisshin Maru, emphasizing that his ship would maintain its current course and speeds, pointing out that the responsibility to avoid a collision rested with the factory vessel. As the Nisshin Maru approached from the starboard side, it narrowly missed a collision with the Bob Barker before veering and striking the stern of the Steve Irwin. Following this, the Nisshin Maru further impacted the port side of the Steve Irwin and ultimately collided with the Bob Barker as well. In a bid to avert further disaster, the crew of the Steve Irwin increased their speed, maneuvering to escape the dangerous situation.