Japanese Research Ship

When I saw this Japanese ship in port last night it looked very much like the whalers you see on the news and my first thought was where are the French when you need them. I googled it Hakuho Maru but there are too many foreign scientists and it appears to be an Antarctic research ship doing soundings and scientific stuff.

Still doesn't sit right having them in Southern Waters probably warning their mates as to the whereabouts of the pods of Whales

Believe it or not I am in no way an activist but it just seems so wrong