SYDNEY, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A boat carrying 25 environmentalists in Antarctic waters off Australia reportedly was struck from behind Sunday by a Japanese whaling boat.
From the Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace leader Shane Rattenbury told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the Nishan Maru came from a mile and a half away to hit the ship.
"There were no other vessels in the area and there was no reason to head towards us -- the Arctic Sunrise was virtually stopped at the time," he alleged.
No one was injured, but Rattenbury said the ship sustained some damage above-deck.
The Greenpeace ship has been dogging Japan's whaling fleet for almost two weeks, attempting to disrupt the hunt for 850 minke whales and 10 fin whales in Japan's so-called scientific research program that results in commercial whale meat sales.
