Most Coasties know about Deadliest Catch on Discovery Channel. From time to time you will even see a Coast Guard cutter on that show, or even a helo.

Many nights, when there's no hockey on TV, I find myself watching Law and Order. Doesn't matter what season it is, I like them all.

In general, I lack true direction in my TV viewing...however, on November 7th, that will change.

Animal Planet (sister channel to Discovery) will be airing a new mini-series called "Whale Wars".

Whale Wars pits the ships of the "Sea Shepherd Conservation Society" against Japanese whaling ships near Antarctica. Now, I'm not for whaling, but Sea Shepherd's tactics are "interesting" to say the least. From the Sea Shepherd's throwing bad butter to ruin the whale meat to the whaling ships returning "fire" with flash-bangs...at one point in the preview for the show the captain of the Sea Shepherd crew is shot.

It seems like picking the guys to cheer for is looking for the lesser of two evils, but at least at this point I can say after Nov. 7, I will have another show to watch other than Law and Order.

The Sea Shepherd Society is a bit extreme to some, not to others.

Capt. Paul Watson founded the Sea Shepard Society after he found Greenpeace to be a little too conservative in their approach for his liking.

Coasties from D13 may remember him from the controversy over the Makah Indian tribe whale hunts in that AOR in the late 1990s.

I remember him because he's an absolute asshat. I also remember him because of the many death threats we received from their group and their followers, the stress they put on us and our families and the jacked up schedule we all were on. Same goes for the Makah.

Not a fan of whaling, especially the horrible way it's done by most countries and because it's not subsistance, it's greed. With today's tree huggin', dirt worshipin', bunny humper crowd, though, they'll be glued to the show and no doubt I'll have to hear about it while paddling with them..

quote:

Originally posted by d_b_j:
I remember him because he's an absolute asshat. I also remember him because of the many death threats we received from their group and their followers, the stress they put on us and our families and the jacked up schedule we all were on. Same goes for the Makah.

Not a fan of whaling, especially the horrible way it's done by most countries and because it's not subsistance, it's greed. With today's tree huggin', dirt worshipin', bunny humper crowd, though, they'll be glued to the show and no doubt I'll have to hear about it while paddling with them..

I agree but I think Asshat is to nice a term for him.

I'm having trouble figuring out who to pull for, the guys illegally whaling or the guys who regularly put others in harms way.

Are they extreme? Sure. I would pay PPV to see the crews duke it out in hand-to-hand combat after their boardings.

quote:

the guys illegally whaling

....are they?

I would say so. They are protected. It's not cultural, not tribal...I can't figure out how Japanese whaling ships would be legal, but I'm willing to listen.

quote:

Originally posted by 1110:
Capt. Paul Watson founded the Sea Shepard Society after he found Greenpeace to be a little too conservative in their approach for his liking.
Coasties from D13 may remember him from the controversy over the Makah Indian tribe whale hunts in that AOR in the late 1990s.

I was stationed at Neah Bay during the Makah whaling time, and I remember meeting Paul Watson numerous times. He and his activists where busy during the 3 years I was there.

If you go to their website, you can see the "split" between Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace. They don't get along...too bad, so sad.

What a great first episode.

With in the first week, they had flipped their RHI with 3 or 4 POB. This of course was because no one handling the lines had an idea what they were doing. I'm not BMC or 1LT, but even I know that you half to tend the lines. No tension in the forward line...RHI flips, and then it seemed like it took them hours to pick them up.

They were going to do a small boat pick up (yes, to pick up the MOB and a capsized RHI), but they realized the other RHIs were not inflated...so they fumbled around for awhile and eventually the ship's medical officer went out and fired off a line throwing gun.

This all while the captain told them not to turn around because it would take too long, so he just put on a backing bell as the RHI and MOBs drifted farther away.

During all of this, someone hit the rotor blade of the helicopter with the boat hook and put a good ding/dent in the rotor blade. So the engineer back in Australia said it's not safe to fly and that they shouldn't but the captain has them fly it anyway.

This show does not disappoint, let me tell you. Having been on a cutter...I guess it reinforced the importance of training, but these guys should not be out on a ship on their own, it's an accident looking for a place to happen. Unfortunately for the inexperienced crew, that place to happen is probably too far for many service to respond to.

Good time...

I recorded this with DVR hopefully we will see some coasties.

If we see any Coasties on this show....they are well out of US waters... Sea Shepherd departed from Australia.

Anyone know what flag the STEVE IRWIN sails under?

I have to say...their lack of training is disturbing on many levels. I'm really surprised no one has died yet.

The blank stare of their captain combined with the incompetence of their 1st mate...really was priceless.

As was their hate for Greenpeace.

I watched this show...i never post but i have to say something about this. i have been a coxn for 6 plus years and on a 378 for almost three years, the lack of training and inability of the "BOSN" and "COXN" absolutely embarrasses me. It may just be me but so far from what i have seen people should be dead and they should not be able to operate these vessels let alone the small boats attached to them. In my opinion its only a matter of time before someone gets killed, please tell me someone is watching this and thinking someone should be regulating them. Like i said i never post but people must agree with me?

I would love to see a CG cutter do a boarding on them. That would be great.

Totally agree JCG.

There were very BASIC concepts even a guy like me from the bridge could see, right off the bat. While the RHI was getting swamped and about to roll over on the members of the crew; the captain was silent.

It's embarrassing for those who have served on a ship/cutter to say the least. The good thing is, we all know they don't have the same training as Coast Guard deckies.

Their use of "BOSN" or "COXN" is also embarrassing. Of course, after the RHI did flip in freezing water, and after they falled to turn around, or clear the stern, or respond in a responsible fashion, the were able to pass the blame around.

The fact that the Communications Officer was the guy who finally came up with "let's fire a line throwing gun." is sad. The ship's 1st mate doesn't no a thing about ships, the captain has no leadership...etc.

It appears the only too reasonable people on the ship are the Communications officer and the pilot (who served in the U.S. Marine Corps).

I loved the way MENSA girl called the Greenpeace ship in the area and signed off with a "the whales need your help, get your head out of your @$$". Very professional radio talk!

After I watched the show I realized no coasties. I live in Kansas and know little about sea life and I could tell they were doing things very wrong. I like the name for the skinny guy 1st mate I think "the hammer Hommastadt" hahhaha

He's the 2nd mate. The 1st mate is Peter Brown...who apparently doesn't know anything about ships.

I guess they picked their responsabilities out of a hat, pretty scary stuff !!

I too watched the show. As far as I am concerned the complete lack of training and leadership was amazing.
As for being embarased about the "BOSN" and "COXN", those are not titles given to just mbr's of the CG, they are long standing nautical/marine titles. I don't think that anyone in the CG who has earned these titles should ever be embarrassed by these yahoo's. I surely am not!
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