Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07WELLINGTON181, THE NISSHIN MARU: AN EXAMPLE OF U.S.-NEW ZEALAND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07WELLINGTON181.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07WELLINGTON181 2007-02-27 20:28 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Wellington
VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWL #0181/01 0582028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272028Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3934
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4754
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0617
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0510
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/ANP DRICCI, OES/OA EBLOOM AND MTOUSLEY 
STATE PASS TO NSF/USAP KARL ERB 
PACOM FOR JO1E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ 
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA 
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD LIZ PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIS SENV IWC AY NZ
SUBJECT: THE NISSHIN MARU: AN EXAMPLE OF U.S.-NEW ZEALAND 
COOPERATION 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  On February 15, a factory floor fire 
disabled the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru in the 
environmentally fragile Southern Ocean off the Antarctic 
coast.  For eleven days, the stricken vessel remained in the 
vicinity of the U.S. McMurdo Station and New Zealand Scott 
Base in the Ross Sea region, about 100 nautical miles from 
the large Adelie penguin breeding colony at Cape Adare. 
Carrying considerable amounts of heavy fuel oil, the ship 
posed a catastrophic environmental threat.  New Zealand's 
response was excellent and was further enhanced through close 
coordination with U.S. counterparts.  This cooperation was 
made much easier by recent dialogue on maritime issues as 
well as our planning for the recent US-NZ Antarctic 
anniversary celebrations, both reflected in the "Matrix" 
process.  It also suggests both sides could benefit by 
exploring ways, within the "Matrix" process, to expand joint 
planning for future maritime incidents.  End Summary. 
 
Background 
---------- 
2. (SBU) On the morning of February 15, Minister for 
Conservation Chris Carter informed DCM Keegan that the engine 
room of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru had caught 
fire.  Carter said the vessel had issued a "May Day" call and 
GNZ expected the crew would abandon the vessel. 
 
3. (SBU) According to GNZ, the Nisshin Maru is a factory 
whaling ship operated by the Institute of Cet Ocean Research 
(I.C.R.) of Japan and flagged in Japan.  At the time of the 
fire, the Nisshin Maru was 265 nautical miles north, 
northeast of the U.S. McMurdo Station and New Zealand Scott 
Base at the edge of the Ross Sea.  Its position at 73.38S; 
175.56E put it within New Zealand's search and rescue area of 
international waters.  This position also meant that the 
Nisshin Maru was about 100 nautical miles from Cape Adare, 
the site of a breeding colony of 250,000 pairs of Adelie 
penguins. 
 
4. (SBU) Initial information suggested that one of the crew 
members was killed in the fire, 120 crew members had 
evacuated to three accompanying vessels in the Japanese 
whaling fleet, and twenty others remained on board the 
Nisshin Maru to fight the fire.  The accompanying vessels 
were understood to be incapable of towing the Nisshin Maru, 
and the nearest capable vessel was an Australian tug-boat 
located three days away.  Minister Carter told the DCM that 
Maritime New Zealand had contacted both McMurdo Station and 
Scott Base to coordinate possible fire assistance to the 
Nisshin Maru. 
 
5. (SBU) Owing in large part to a language barrier, the 
initial reports New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Center 
(RCCNZ) received had only limited technical information about 
the actual type of damage sustained by the ship, the extent 
of the damage, or kind of repairs being made.  RCCNZ 
understood from the ship's master that fire damage was 
isolated to the factory deck, below the bridge and above the 
engine room.  The master reported that the hull was 
structurally sound and that there was no immediate risk of 
oil pollution as a result of the fire.  However, given the 
position of the ship in Antarctic waters, with icebergs and 
pack ice in abundance, GNZ remained particularly concerned 
about other risks, including possible structural damage from 
impact with ice. 
 
6. (SBU) With the assistance of a Japanese interpreter who 
later assisted the RCCNZ, GNZ officials determined that two 
types of heavy fuel oil were on board the Nisshin Maru in 
quantities sufficient to pose a threat to the environment. 
As the fire fighting efforts continued, the Nisshin Maru was 
rafted between two of its accompanying vessels, the Oriental 
Bluebird and the Yushin Maru 2, at a new position 280 
nautical miles north, northeast of McMurdo Station, after 
which the vessel canceled its distress call. 
 
 
7. (SBU) During efforts to suppress the fire, accumulated 
fire fighting water had caused the ship to list slightly, but 
portable pumps corrected the problem.  The weather in the 
Antarctic remained calm, although NZ authorities remained 
concerned that a sudden deterioration in the weather 
conditions might soon cause the ship to founder.  Based on 
the limited information received from the Japanese whaling 
fleet, the GNZ feared an environmental catastrophe could 
unfold if the Nisshin Maru were to become further compromised. 
 
Request for U.S. assistance 
--------------------------- 
8. (SBU) From the initial stages of the crisis and throughout 
the next 11 days, the RCCNZ shared its situation reports 
immediately with Embassy Science (ESTH) Officer Tod Duran, 
who distributed them to the State Department, Coast Guard, US 
Antarctic Program/NSF, and PACOM.  On the morning of February 
16, the Embassy received a Diplomatic Note from MFAT 
requesting that a U.S. Antarctic Program C-130 fly over and 
photograph the vessel.  In coordination with EAP/ANP and OES, 
the Embassy received National Science Foundation and 
Department agreement to the request. 
 
9. (SBU) Later in the afternoon, GNZ officials reported cloud 
cover to 1,000 feet, making a flyover impractical for 
obtaining photos over the following 24 hours.  PACOM and OES 
Deputy Director Evan Bloom informed the Embassy that the U.S. 
Coast Guard Ship (USCGS) Polar Sea was lingering in the area, 
having completed its annual icebreaking operations in McMurdo 
Sound.  Embassy officials contacted the Environment Division 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and 
inquired whether they planned to ask that the Polar Sea 
photograph the Nisshin Maru.  MFAT said yes, and delivered a 
second DipNote with that request.  After speaking with ESTH 
officer Duran, State Department-based U.S. Coast Guard 
liaison Mike Tousley fast-tracked the request to PACOM, which 
diverted the Polar Sea to the Nisshin Maru for photo 
reconnaissance. 
 
10. (SBU) On February 17, the Polar Sea obtained photos of 
the Nisshin Maru, sharing them with USAP officials, who 
forwarded them to New Zealand's Scott Base and other GNZ 
interests.  Antarctic New Zealand officials expressed thanks 
for the photos which satisfied Zealand's request for a photo 
assessment.  Embassy Science Officer and DATT Capt. Ricardo 
Martinez confirmed with MFAT that GNZ was satisfied with the 
photo record, and that the use of the C-130 would be 
redundant.  NSF then canceled the mission.  On February 22, 
Ambassador McCormick called Minister Carter to reaffirm 
personally the importance we attached to U.S. assistance to 
New Zealand in responding to this maritime incident. 
 
11. (SBU) Despite GNZ's strong anti-whaling position, its 
offers of assistance to the Japanese vessel were delivered 
without reference to the ship's activities.  (NB: On February 
16, however, Minister Carter issued a public statement 
regretting that the vessel had declined help from the 
Greenpeace anti-whaling ship The Esperanza, which was also in 
the area. End NB.)  When the engineers of the Nisshin Maru 
were able to restart its engine on February 25 so it could 
steam north under its own power, Maritime New Zealand 
commended the engineers for their effort.  The RCCNZ issued 
its last SitRep at 4:30 p.m. on February 25.  At that time, 
the Nisshin Maru was 200 nautical miles from the scene of the 
incident.  As of 4 p.m. on February 26, it was located some 
360 nautical miles away. 
 
Comment: 
-------- 
12. (SBU) Although we have worked closely with New Zealand in 
Antarctica for 50 years, the level of US-NZ cooperation used 
to address this incident was truly exceptional.  Both sides' 
recent renewed focus on reinvigorating overall bilateral 
 
ties, coupled with efforts to strengthen our dialogue on 
maritime security issues, greatly improved our ability to be 
"joined up" as we responded to fast moving events 
well-removed from either country's shores.  USG-GNZ planning 
for the January 2007 celebrations in honor of the 50th 
anniversary of US-NZ cooperation on the ice, together with 
Post's increased attention to environment and science issues, 
also helped us know the right players to get together.  This 
and other interactions, reflected in the "Matrix" process, 
have strengthened our ability to plan jointly. We should 
continue to improve our planning for future incidents. 
Although the "Nisshin Maru" accident ended without an impact 
on the environment, we may not be so lucky next time. 
Keegan