Japanese research vessel Nisshin Maru collides with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in Mackenzie Bay, Antarctica

Japanese research vessel Nisshin Maru (R) collides with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in Mackenzie Bay, Antarctica in this handout picture taken on February 20, 2013. Anti-whaling activists called on Wednesday for Australia to send a naval vessel to the Southern Ocean after a confrontation in which they said a Japanese whaling ship collided with two of their protest vessels, damaging their flagship. Australia said it was confirming the report of the incident. Neither the Japanese government nor its whaling authority immediately responded to the Sea Shepherd’s account of the clash. REUTERS/Tim Watters/Sea Shepherd Australia/Handout (ANTARCTICA – Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT MARITIME POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS