Ady Gil warned by Australia

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority had directly warned the Ady Gil crew about the boat's ability to withstand a collision before the whaling season started, says a report by the authority.

The investigation into the January sinking of the Ady Gil, after it was sliced in two by Japanese security ship the Shonan Maru 2, failed to find which party was to blame after the Japanese Government refused to co-operate and video footage proved inconclusive.

Maritime New Zealand has not commented on its own investigation, saying only that it is ongoing.

Ady Gil skipper Pete Bethune is in Japan facing charges including trespass, causing injury, vandalism, carrying a knife and obstructing commercial activities.