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• Length: 35-meters (115-feet) • Vessel Type: stabilized, monohull trimaran • Max Speed: 24 knots • First Expedition: 1998 successful circumnavigation in 74 days, beating the previous record of 84 days held by the USS Triton, a nuclear-powered submarine [Note: In 2008, the 60-day world record was set by the Earthrace, which later become Sea Shepherd’s vessel the Ady Gil] • Former Job: South African-based charter vessel • First Sea Shepherd Expedition: Operation No Compromise • SSCS Name: Brigitte Bardot (formerlly Gojira) |
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• Length: 56 meters • Beam: 9.8 meters • Draught: 4.5 meters • Date Built: 1993, Tokyo IHI Shipyard • Max Speed: 16 knots • Most Interesting Fact: It was once a part of the Japanese whaling fleet. • Country of Origin: Japan • Former Job: Meteorological Observation Ship for Japan Government • Former Name: Seifu Maru • Current Name: Sam Simon - named after the co-creator and executive producer of “The Simpsons,” a member of Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors, and longtime champion of animals. • First Sea Shepherd Expedition: November 2012, Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation Zero Tolerance |
Many other small vessels and watercraft serve Sea Shepherd on the frontlines, defending the animals. These smallcraft are launched from our bigger vessels, and have the speed and maneuverability to keep up with and intercept whaling and fishing vessels. Regardless of the hull type, every vessel flying the Sea Shepherd colors will continue to strike fear and trepidation in the hearts of those who engage in illegal whaling, fishing, and other destructive marine activities.
This former U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat, built in 1955, was purchased by Sea Shepherd in 1991. She had powerful new engines installed in 1979 and can catch just about anything on the water.
In service with Sea Shepherd, she went up against Japanese pirate driftnetters and played a leading role in the efforts to protect gray whales from being hunted off Neah Bay, WA. In the fall of 1999, during a stand-off with whale hunt advocates, the Sirenian was sabotaged while in port in Seattle.
Recovered and fully overhauled, she left Seattle at the end of November 2000 for guard duty in the Galapagos National Park (GNP). Sea Shepherd entered into a five-year contract with the GNP to provide our fast boat as an enforcement patrol vessel. During that time, the Sirenian intervened against hundreds of illegal activities and seized numerous poaching vessels. These actions prevented the slaughter of thousands of sharks and other marine species. The Sirenian became an indispensable part of the Marine Reserve, and therefore, in October 2005, Captain Paul Watson signed a new agreement with the director of the GNP to keep the ship in the Galapagos on a permanent basis. Sea Shepherd donated the vessel to the GNP so that she could carry on her important enforcement duties. The ship will continue to display the Sea Shepherd logo and Sea Shepherd continues to play a vital role in its activities.
In 2006, the ship was renamed "Yoshka" and underwent an overhaul. The Yoshka is crewed by Galapagos National Park rangers and works in partnership with other vessels such as Guadalupe River, the Sierra Negra and several other smaller boats to protect the GNP from illegal fishing activities.
Our first ship was a British-registered fishing trawler purchased in 1978 with a grant from the Fund for Animals.
Her major action was ramming and damaging the outlaw whaler Sierra. The campaign to find and disable the Sierra was Sea Shepherd's first direct action.
Captain Paul Watson scuttled the ship rather than let it fall into the hands of pirate whalers.
Read the honorable history of our beloved ship... MORE
The replacement for the Sea Shepherd was a nearly identical 657-ton fishing trawler purchased in 1980 with money received for the film rights to the story of the Sierra campaign.
In 1992, the Sea Shepherd II was sold in Ucluelet, British Columbia, rather than pay an outrageous pilotage bill that would have gone to subsidize the logging industry. All valuable equipment was removed and the hull was sold later.
The Sea Shepherd II had an astounding record of success prior to her sale. Her lineage of actions and campaigns include:
Rest in peace Sea Shepherd II -- you served us well!
This ship was previously a buoy tender with the Canadian coast guard. It was renamed Cleveland Amory after Sea Shepherd's first benefactor. Cleveland Amory was the founder and president of the Fund for Animals, and was instrumental in providing funding so that Captain Watson could purchase Sea Shepherd's first ship. For many years, Cleveland served on the Sea Shepherd Advisory Board.
Cleveland, who was a best-selling author and one of the world's leading advocates for animals, died in his sleep on October 14, 1998. He was 81.
In 1993, Sea Shepherd brought worldwide attention to the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans' mismanagement of the East coast cod fishery when Captain Watson took the ship Cleveland Amory to the 
Grand Banks. He chased foreign trawlers out of the area where they were fishing illegally and cut the trawl net of a Cuban vessel. The Canadian government arrested Watson and a lengthy trial ensued (in which Watson was eventually found not guilty of the major charges brought against him). What was especially interesting about this event was that Watson and Sea Shepherd were cheered and thanked by many local fishermen who were happy to see that someone was doing what their own government should have done.
The ship was sold in late 1993 to help raise funds to purchase the Whales Forever.
This former British seismic research ship, built in 1970, was purchased in 1994 thanks to a contribution from Europaisches Tierhilfswerk, a German animal protection organization.
The M/Y Whales Forever, registered as a yacht under the flag of Belize, is 187-feet long and weighs 774 tons. She has a range of 15,000 miles and can carry 42 people. The ship was severely damaged in her engagement with the Norwegian Navy in 1994, and the ship was sold in 1995, repairs being too expensive.
More history and her epic battle with the Norwegian Navy... MORE
In August 1996, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society purchased a new long-range, ice-class, heavy-duty, conservation enforcement ship in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Originally christened Sea Shepherd III, she was re-named Ocean Warrior in 1999 to reflect the missions and campaigns that face her in the new millennium.
She was definitely up to withstanding the ice floes of the Labrador coast, the harsh unpredictable waters of Antarctica and challenging any pirate whaler on the high seas.
The ship was built in 1956 as a Norwegian Fisheries research and enforcement ship. At 54 meters (180 ft) in length and 657 tons (displacement), her one-inch thick riveted, welded steel hull was built to withstand the violent pounding of the storm-haunted North Sea.
The ship's massive German-built diesel engine drives a variable pitch propeller that is protected inside a Kort nozzle. This means 1400 horsepower, coupled with the swift maneuverability of bridge control of he pitch.
In 2002, after months of bureaucratic paper shuffling and payments of extortionist demands by the Cayman Islands Bureau of Shipping, the Ocean Warrior was re-registered in Canada. She was renamed the Farley Mowat after Sea Shepherd's International Chair, Farley Mowat, Canadian author and animal welfare advocate.
The Sea Shepherd flagship, the R/V Farley Mowat officially began her career in the waters off Costa Rica appropriately immersed in controversy over policing actions against illegal fishing activities. Afterwards, she spent years defending whales and seals in the Antarctic and Canada before being seized in 2008 by the Canadian government.
At a fundraising event in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 17th, 2009, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society unveiled their newest ocean defense vessel: the Ady Gil. The vessel, previously known as the Earthrace, is a fast, futuristic looking trimaran that recently set the world record for global circumnavigation. The vessel renaming reflects the ship’s benefactor, Ady Gil, who helped acquire the vessel.
Due to its speed capabilities, up to 50 knots, Captain Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd Founder) will use the Ady Gil to intercept and physically block the harpoon ships from illegally slaughtering whales.
Captain Watson said before Operation Waltzing Matilda, “We’re very excited that the Ady Gil will be joining the Steve Irwin in Antarctica this campaign. With these two ships, we will mount the most ambitious and aggressive effort to date to obstruct the slaughter of the whales in the Southern Ocean.”
Says Chuck Swift, Deputy CEO in charge of ship’s operations, “The Ady Gil gives us the speed necessary to catch and stay with the Japanese whaling fleet. We are very optimistic that with these two ships, and some other surprises, we will shut down whaling in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.”
During the 2009-2010 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation Waltzing Matilda, on January 5, 2010, in an unprovoked attack captured on film, the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 deliberately rammed and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd trimaran Ady Gil. The vessel was cut in two.
Six crew crewmembers, four from New Zealand, one from Australia, and one from the Netherlands were immediately rescued by the crew of the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker. None of the crew Ady Gil crew were injured.
January 8, 2010 at 17:20 (GMT) the Bob Barker reported the last known position of the Ady Gil to the Australian Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC). This report was made because the Ady Gil - which was going to be towed to a nearby base - was sinking.
Sea Shepherd is in constant need of additional vessels for our pelagic conservation work. We need everything from coastal patrol vessels (flybridge sportfishing boats would be perfect), inflatables (zodiacs or equivalent), personal watercraft (4-stroke jetskis/seadoos), and other types of vessels and marine equipment.
Any donated boat is deductible as a charitable contribution. Sea Shepherd is a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization. We really need your support in the new millenium. PLEASE let us know if you have a boat to donate, or if you know of a boat that might be available. Your support can truly make a difference for the marine wildlife we serve.
Neptune's Navy
On December 5, 2007 just before the 2007-2008 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign: Operation Migaloo began to defend the whales of the Southern Oceans, the Sea Shepherd vessel M/Y Robert Hunter was officially re-named the Steve Irwin in honor of the late Australian conservationist. The name change was announced at a press conference by Irwin's widow Terri Irwin and Captain Paul Watson at the Melbourne Docklands just prior to the ship's departure to the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.