Anti-whaling group says 1 of its ships has collided with a Japanese harpoon boat in Antarctica

Conservationists, whalers collide off Antarctica

SYDNEY — Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says another one of its ships has collided with a Japanese harpoon boat off Antarctica.

No one was injured in the collision Saturday — the second major clash between the conservationists and Japanese whalers this year — and the ship was not in danger of sinking.

Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson said by satellite telephone that the Japanese ship rammed the conservationists’ ship the Bob Barker and tore a gash in the hull above the water line.

The Bob Barker — named after the U.S. game show host who donated millions to buy it — was blocking the Japanese ships from loading whales onto the fleet’s processing vessel.

Japanese officials were not immediately available to comment.