Protest ship hit in whaling clash

Combat ... Green laser from the deck of the anti-whaling group's newly-acquired vessel, the Ady Gil, shoots towards the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru No. 2. AP Photo Source: AFP

A Japanese whaling vessel and the protest ship the Ady Gill collided in Australia's Antarctic waters on Wednesday afternoon.

All six crew members have been rescued.

See the footage here.

The protesters say they were trying to get out of the way of the Japanese vessel, while the Japanese have accused the protesters of causing the collision.

Jeff Hansen, Australian director of the Sea Shepherd organisation which is involved in the anti-whaling protest, said the Ady Gill had come to a stop in front of the Shonan Maru 2 vessel.

Mr Hansen said the Ady Gill, a small vessel built for speed, was trying to get out of the way.

"The Shonan Maru 2 had it in its direct line of sight, coming straight for it," Mr Hansen told AAP.

"It came through and took a section off the fuselage. It's put a big hole in it."

Mr Hansen said the Ady Gill had not sunk.

All six crew members had been resuced by a fellow protest ship, the Bob Barker.