Sea Shepherd unveils new vessel to target illegal whaling

Replacement after previous ship was deliberately rammed

November 2010: Sea Shepherd's latest addition to its fleet was unveiled at a Hollywood fundraiser earlier this month.

It will take part in the upcoming Antarctic whale defence campaign, Operation No Compromise.

The 12-year-old, 115ft, stabilized monohull vessel will be a fast interceptor, replacing the Ady Gil, the vessel that the Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 rammed and destroyed at the beginning of the year.

This expedition will be Sea Shepherd's seventh campaign to oppose the illegal activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. During the past six campaigns, the organisation says it saved the lives of nearly 2,000 whales, as well as exposing illegal Japanese whaling.

Last season, we were able to save more whales than the Japanese whalers were able to kill. Five hundred and twenty-eight whales lives were saved as a result of Sea Shepherd's efforts.

'Each year we become stronger and more effective'

‘Each year, because of our supporters, we have become stronger and more effective,' said a spokesman. ‘Through patience, determination and persistence, we are driving the Japanese whaling fleet into debt and closer to the day they will retreat from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

‘We are confident that we will see our most effective campaign ever with Operation No Compromise. Our ships, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker, are currently being prepared for the campaign. We have recruited the best crew we can assemble. Our only challenge now is to raise the funds for the Ocean Adventurer.

‘With three ships, we will once again be able to track and intervene against the poachers in the Southern Ocean for the entire season. Our goal is to save more whales this coming season than we did during the last season and to shut down whaling in the Southern Ocean permanently.'

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