“All of my life I have been afraid of only one thing – and that is of doing nothing.
I have never been able to fathom the idea of accepting the way things are.
We humans are killing our oceans, we are diminishing bio-diversity, we are over heating the planet,
and we are pouring poisons into the sea and air.
I cannot accept that meekly, and I know with absolute certainty that if we kill the oceans,
we kill ourselves. If the oceans die, we die and the oceans are dying in our time.”
~ Captain Paul Watson
Founded and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
“Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.
Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.”
Quote taken from the Sea Shepherd website.
Over the past few years several Sea Shepherd ships have called into Sydney
and it has been my pleasure to visit them and their crews.
MY Steve Irwin
MY Steve Irwin
The MY Steve Irwin is the flagship of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Ships Specifications
Name Motor Yacht Steve Irwin
Registered Rotterdam, Netherlands since 2007
Class / Type Island Class Offshore Patrol Vessel
Designer Hall, Russell & Company Ltd of Aberdeen, Scotland
Length 59.43 m (195 ft)
Beam 10.97 m (36 ft)
Draught 4.26 m (14 ft)
Tonnage 885 Gross Register Tonnage
Speed 16.5 knots (31 km/h)
Propulsion 2 x British Polar Engines 12-cylinder 2,100 bhp (1,600 kW), driving variable-pitch propeller
Fuel Capacity 200 Tons
Range 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Crew 40+
MY Steve Irwin
History
FPV Westra 1975 – 2003
Ship Number 962 an Island Class Offshore Patrol Vessel was designed by Hall, Russell & Company Ltd of Aberdeen, Scotland. She is one of eight Island Class ships built for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and was christened FPV Westra. (FPV – Fishery Protection Vessel)
The Island Class Offshore Patrol Vessel were developed as a direct result of the Royal Navy’s experiences during the so called ‘Cod War’ with Iceland over disputed fishing grounds in the North Atlantic. The Westra and her sister ships formed the backbone of the Fishery Protection Squadron, their mission being to patrol the UK’s Atlantic fishing grounds and provide security to the North Sea oil and gas fields.
The Bridge – MY Steve Irwin
MV Robert Hunter / MY Steve Irwin 2005 – Present Day
The Westra was sold to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in 2005. Sea Shepherd renamed her the MV Robert Hunter after Canadian Robert Hunter (October 13, 1941 – May 2, 2005), a co-founder of Greenpeace. The Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin was considering joining the ship for a trip to Antarctica but tragically died before he was able to do so. Sea Shepherd renamed the ship in his honour in December 2007.
The number 77 on the bow of the Steve Irwin celebrates the founding of Sea Shepherd in 1977. The MY Steve Irwin has participated in many of Sea Shepherd’s direct action campaigns such as anti whaling campaigns in the Southern Ocean.
Save The Kimberley Whale Breeding Grounds
Rear Deck – MY Steve Irwin
Forward Boat Deck – MY Steve Irwin
The Helicopter Hangar – MY Steve Irwin
MY Bob Barker
MY Bob Barker
Ships Specifications
Name Motor Yacht Bob Barker
Builder Fredriksstad MV
Laid Down in 1950 – Yard Number 333
Registered Rotterdam, Netherlands
Length 52.2 m (171 ft)
Beam 9 m (30 ft)
Draught 5.95 m (19 ft)
Tonnage 801 Gross Register Tonnage
Speed 18 knots (31 km/h)
Propulsion 1 x 3000 hp diesel engine
Crew 40+
Sea Shepherd Logo on an Action Boat Motor – MY Bob Barker
History
Pol XIV 1950-66
Owner Hvalfangerselskap Polaris A/S
Port of Registry Larvik, Norway
The Pol XIV was designed and built as a long range fast ice vessel for whaling. It operated in this role until 1962
Volstad Jr 1966-97
Owner Einar Volstad PR
Port of Registry Alesund, Norway
Verdi 1997-98
Owner Lafjord Rederi A/S
Port of Registry Bergen, Norway
Volstad Jr 1998-04
Owner Lafjord Rederi A/S
Port of Registry Bergen, Norway
Polaris 2005-09
Owner Seven Sea Sg Inc
Port of Registry Rarotonga, Cook Islands
MY Bob Barker 2009 – Present Day
Owner Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Port of Registry Rotterdam, Netherlands
Call Sign 5VBR5
In 2009 USA TV personality Bob Barker donated $5M to buy the ship and a helicopter for Sea Shepherd.
“I’m delighted to be able to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in its mission to end the
destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans.
There is lot of talk about preserving our ecosystems and species,
but this is one organization that puts these words into action.” ~ Bob Barker
Action Boats on the MY Bob Barker
MV Sam Simon
MV Sam Simon
The MV Sam Simon is the fourth ship to join the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The ship is named after American television producer and writer Sam Simon, who donated the two million dollars needed for the purchase of the vessel.
Ships Specifications
Name Motor Vessel Sam Simon
Registered Rotterdam, Netherlands
Class / Type Research / Survey Vessel
Builder Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co Ltd
Yard Number 3035
Length 55.5 m (182 ft)
Beam 9.8 m (32 ft)
Draught 3.5 m (11 ft)
Tonnage 484 Gross Register Tonnage
Speed 12.9 knots (23.9 km/h; 14.8 mph) – 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Propulsion One 6-cylinder diesel by Akasaka Diesel Ltd, Japan. 1,300 kW (1,800 hp)
Fuel Capacity 200 Tons
Crew 40+
Sea Shepherd Logo on the MV Sam Simon
History
Seifu Maru 1993 – 2010
The Seifu Maru which means Cool Breeze in Japanese was designed and built for the Japanese Meteorological Agency as a marine meteorological and oceanographic observation ship. One of five ships operated by the Japanese Meteorological Agency their mission was to observe and study the marine environment around Japan and the Northern Pacific, particularly greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases, heavy metals and oils. The Seifu Maru was operated by the Maizuru Marine Observatory covering the Sea of Japan.
Once the ARGO Program, a network of oceanography of floating data collecting buoys studying long-term ocean variability was completed in 2010 the Seifu Maru was sold off as an un-needed ship.
Kaiko Maru No 8 2010 – 2012
The Seifu Maru was sold to the Offshore Operation Co. Ltd who renamed her the Kaiko Maru No 8.
New Atlantis 2012
In September 2012 the Kaiko Maru No 8 was purchased by New Atlantis Ventures LLC renamed New Atlantis, registered under the flag of Tuvalu.
MV Sam Simon 2012 – Present
The New Atlantis was sailed to Brisbane, Australia for refitting and renamed the MV Sam Simon. The half million dollar upgrades increasing here speed and range. In December 2012 in Hobart, Australia the ship was publicly unveiled in her new role as a member of the Sea Shepherd fleet just in time to take part in the anti whaling campaigns in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
In February 2013 the MV Sam Simon and MY Steve Irwin were involved in clashes with the Japanese whaling factory ship MV Nisshin Maru off Antarctica.
The Bridge – MV Sam Simon
Mast Detail – MV Sam Simon
The MV Sam Simon at Circular Quay, Sydney
To learn more about Sea Shepherd, their campaigns and to become involved please follow this link.
Sea Shepherd Website
To discover more about the Sea Shepherd fleet please follow this link.
Sea Shepherd Fleet
The Sharks Mouth – MY Bob Barker
Please Note
That the information presented on this webpage was gathered from various websites and sources.
While I have tried to present the facts as accurately as possible please be aware that I found some variation in the information provided on these different websites.