InsideJapan News Network

A Japanese whaling ship has cut a protest boat in half after the vessel followed it out into the waters of the Antarctic.

A video of the Shonan Maru 2 whaling ship shows it steering into the side of the Ady Gil, with the crew of the Japanese vessel claiming that the crew of the protest boat shone a laser at them and also threw items at their boat.

Furthermore, the protestors attempted to damage the whaling ship's rudder and propeller, the crew of the Shonan Maru 2 said.

The Ady Gill boat is being sailed by members of environmental group the Sea Shepherd Conversation Society (SSCS) which was set up by Paul Watson, one of the men behind Greenpeace.

However, Greenpeace and the SSCS are not allies - with the former questioning the tactics used by the latter.

Last year, Greenpeace launched an anti-whaling campaign in Japan. Whaling is a traditional activity in Japan and the meat and blubber is used for both food and oil.

Written by Kimberley Homer.