Japanese whalers had to abandon efforts to refuel in the southern ocean after they say the Sea Shepherd vessels Steve Irwin, Bob Barker and Sam Simon rammed them and made the operation too dangerous.  Paul Watson says it was the Japanese who rammed the activists.

Sea Shepherd director Dr. Bob Brown is denying the accusation, and counter-charges the Japanese will illegal whaling and having its heavy oil refueling ship illegally in the Southern Ocean.

Indeed, the footage released by Sea Shepherd shows its vessel Bob Barker being sandwiched between the two Asian ships.  There were no injuries among the Sea Shepherd crew, but Watson says the Japanese threw stun grenades and used water cannon on his boat.