Crews still working on Japanese whalerBy RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 20, 1:39 AM ET
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Repair crews failed Tuesday to restart the engine
of a crippled Japanese whaler but were not yet planning to tow the ship away
from the pristine Antarctic coastline, an official said.
Steve Corbett, whose organization Maritime New Zealand has been in daily
contact with the stricken Nisshin Maru since a fire broke out on board
Thursday, said no significant progress was reported on getting the ship moving
under its own power.
-snip-New Zealand's Conservation Minister said Tuesday that the crippled whaler was
unlikely to be allowed to enter the waters of the strongly anti-whaling nation
if the vessel has to be towed to port for repairs.
-snip-The ship sustained less damage than originally thought, but if the engines don't
restart, the Nisshin Maru will be towed out of the area by other ships in the six-
vessel fleet, Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research spokesman Glenn Inwood
told New Zealand's National Radio.
-snip-