Australian police search Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel

The Australian Federal Police confirmed they conducted a search warrant on board the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s flagship vessel Steve Irwin when it docked in Hobart on Saturday morning.

A police spokesman said the warrant was executed ‘‘as a result of a formal request from Japanese authorities.’‘

The spokesman would not comment on what had been removed, but the Australian Associated Press reported video material on board the ship had been taken. Police conducted a similar search of the Steve Irwin in February last year when they seized videos, the ship’s log books, global positioning system records and other documents.

Sen Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens Party, was in Hobart to welcome the anti-whaling protesters after they officially ended this year’s campaign.

He said it was ‘‘outrageous that Australian police are at the disposal of the Japanese whale killers.’‘

Brown said in a statement he believes the search warrant ‘‘alleges breaches of Australian law, not Japanese law.’‘

‘‘The spineless (Kevin) Rudd government has laid charges, including throwing of rancid butter, but the Shonan Maru (No.) 2’s ‘sinking’ of the whale-protection boat Ady Gil, threatening the lives of six crew members, is not mentioned,’’ Brown said.

‘‘Tokyo has taken over Australia’s Antarctic seas and whales and now it controls events in Hobart,’’ he added.

This year saw an escalation in the annual clashes between Japanese whalers and anti-whaling activists, with one of the protest vessels, the Ady Gil, destroyed during a collision with the Shonan Maru No. 2 on Jan 6.

Pete Bethune, captain of the Ady Gil, later attempted to board the Shonan Maru No.2 to arrest the Japanese captain for the attempted murder of his crew members.

The Shonan Maru No. 2 is now taking Bethune back to Tokyo for questioning.

Japanese whalers said protesters had also targeted them with butyric acid, paint projectiles and laser beams.

The hard-line conservationists’ second vessel, the Bob Barker, is also due to dock in Hobart on Saturday, but police would not confirm if they intend to search the vessel.