Farewell Fremantle, you’ve been good to us!

Locky MacLean
Captain, MY Gojira

Gojira's departure from Fremantle included some pomp and circumstance with Lord Mayor Brad Pettitt bestowing the city of Fremantle’s flag to Sea Shepherd’s Australian Director Jeff Hansen, and the Australian flag and city’s plaque to myself on account of the ship's new Australian registry onboard the Gojira. Yes, its true, Sea Shepherd's new vessel now proudly flies the Australian flag, and her home port is Fremantle.

I cannot speak enough about the enormous support the people of Fremantle have given the crew of Gojira in getting her ready for this year's campaign. It is difficult for me to imagine another place where we could have achieved so much in so little time. From engine replacement to painting the entire vessel Sea Shepherd-black, to installing a new generator, building a fly bridge enclosure to keep the water cannons at bay, adding communications equipment, refrigerators, freezers and in general preparing this latest addition to our fleet for Operation No Compromise.

At this moment Gojira is rounding Cape Leeuwin on the southwest coast of Australia. We are four days away from Hobart where we will join up with the rest of our crew and fleet including the Bob Barker and Steve Irwin.