An environmental activist vessel, Bandero, collided with the Norwegian krill harvester Antarctic Sea near Antarctica, causing damage to its hull, according to Aker QRILL Company. The incident occurred on Tuesday, with Bandero striking the trawler’s stern, where the diesel fuel tank is located. Aker QRILL’s CEO, Webjoern Barstad, noted that while the damage was minor, a rupture could have led to a significant spill.
Initially, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation described the collision as accidental but later clarified that it was deliberate, stating that prior warnings were issued. The foundation aims to disrupt krill fishing to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of krill as a foundational species for marine life.
Aker QRILL, which accounts for over 60% of Antarctic krill harvesting, disputes claims that industrial vessels significantly impact krill stocks. The incident took place over 500 miles from Argentina, involving nearly 60 crew members, none of whom were injured. Aker QRILL is recognized as a leading krill company, owned by U.S.-based American Industrial Partners and Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke.
