Neptune's Navy
Encyclopedia
Neptune's Navy is the name that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society uses to refer to the ships it operates. Most of these vessels are used to hinder or antagonize what Sea Shepherd considers illegal fishing, whaling or sealing operations.
in fact stated that they had intentionally utilised a vessel that had become too old for Sea Shepherd to keep in action further.
In June 2009 Sea Shepherd announced that the trimaran
Earthrace, later renamed Ady Gil, would accompany its 2009-10 operations against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
. Pete Bethune, the operator of the vessel, said that an agreement was reached with Sea Shepherd for the boat to adopt a support role. On 17 October 2009, the Earthrace was presented to the media with a new black paint job, and re-named Ady Gil, after the name of a major sponsor. On January 6, 2010 the vessel was badly damaged in a collision at sea with the Japanese vessel Shōnan Maru 2. The Ady Gil sank on January 8 while she was being towed towards the French Dumont d'Urville Station
in Antarctica after it filled with water and became too heavy to tow. The financial loss was estimated at about $1.5 million.
. The Steve Irwin was obtained in 2007 and originally called the Robert Hunter. It was renamed in honor of Australian Steve Irwin
("The Crocodile Hunter"). Terri Irwin, his widow, gave her support to Sea Shepherd, saying, "Whales have always been in Steve's heart and in 2006 he was investigating the possibility of joining the Sea Shepherd on part of its journey to defend these beautiful animals."
The other ship, the 1200-tonne Bob Barker, was named after famous television game-show host and animal activist Bob Barker
, who made the purchase of the retired Norwegian whaling vessel possible with a donation of USD$5 million. This ship and the Irwin were both given new dazzle paint jobs in 2011. They are easier to tell apart now since the Irwin has a 77 painted on its bow and the Bob Barker has the old "cartoon shark mouth" design on its bow.
Sea Shepherd acquired the Ocean 7 Adventurer for its 2011 campaign against Japanese whaling in the Antarctic, renaming it MV Gojira. However, after a legal claim, Sea Shepherd have renamed the MV Gojira and the vessel is now known as .
s, Delta RHIB
and Zodiac inflatables
deployed off of the larger vessels. In 1999 Sea Shepherd briefly obtained a small personal submarine
in hopes of using it against tribal whalers. The sub however was never fully functional and Sea Shepherd decided to sell it instead for an undisclosed price.
The vessels being engaged in controversial activities has caused registration issues with multiple governments, and the ships of the fleet have flown the flags of several different nations.
In August 2006, the Farley Mowat had its registration revoked by Canada. Later that year, Japan requested that the United Kingdom
strip the Robert Hunter of its flag and for Belize
to strip the Farley Mowat of hers. The Robert Hunter was removed from the shipping registers of the United Kingdom since its activities were "inconsistent with her status as a pleasure vessel." The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize withdrew the use of the nation's flag after finding the Farley Mowat was not being used as a pleasure craft and stated that "it could not condone acts that threatened life and property at sea." The Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake offered support and flags of the Iroquois Confederacy to fly on the Farley Mowat and the Robert Hunter.
In early 2010, the Bob Barker briefly falsely flew a Norwegian flag with the intent to deceive Japanese whalers.
The Steve Irwin now sails under the Dutch
flag, but legislation was introduced to ban the group from using it. However, the junior transport minister later noted that there was no further intention of deregistering the Steve Irwin. In February 2010, however, after repeated requests by Japan, a new bill was introduced which would modify the registry law to allow ships to be struck from the registry if their conduct harmed the Netherlands' reputation.
Also in February 2010, Japan announced that Togo had struck the Bob Barker from its registry. The Bob Barker has since been re-registered in the Netherlands.
Past
The group has historically operated a number of vessels. The Ocean Warrior, later renamed the RV Farley Mowat was purchased in 1996 but seized by the Canadian government in April 2008. Due to the age of the vessel, the Society has decided not to pursue any avenue of reacquiring it. Paul WatsonPaul Watson
Paul Watson is a Canadian animal rights and environmental activist, who founded and is president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a direct action group devoted to marine conservation....
in fact stated that they had intentionally utilised a vessel that had become too old for Sea Shepherd to keep in action further.
In June 2009 Sea Shepherd announced that the trimaran
Trimaran
A trimaran is a multihulled boat consisting of a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls , attached to the main hull with lateral struts...
Earthrace, later renamed Ady Gil, would accompany its 2009-10 operations against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is an area of 50 million square kilometres surrounding the continent of Antarctica where the International Whaling Commission has banned all types of commercial whaling...
. Pete Bethune, the operator of the vessel, said that an agreement was reached with Sea Shepherd for the boat to adopt a support role. On 17 October 2009, the Earthrace was presented to the media with a new black paint job, and re-named Ady Gil, after the name of a major sponsor. On January 6, 2010 the vessel was badly damaged in a collision at sea with the Japanese vessel Shōnan Maru 2. The Ady Gil sank on January 8 while she was being towed towards the French Dumont d'Urville Station
Dumont d'Urville Station
The Dumont d'Urville Station is a French scientific station located in Antarctica on Île des Pétrels, archipelago of Pointe Géologie in Adélie Land. It is named after explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville...
in Antarctica after it filled with water and became too heavy to tow. The financial loss was estimated at about $1.5 million.
Current (2011)
As of mid-2011, the society operates three ships, the MY Steve Irwin, , and the MY Bob BarkerMY Bob Barker
The MY Bob Barker is a ship owned and operated by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, named for former television game show host Bob Barker, whose donation of $5 million to the society facilitated the purchase of the ship. It first started operating for the group in late 2009 / early 2010 in its...
. The Steve Irwin was obtained in 2007 and originally called the Robert Hunter. It was renamed in honor of Australian Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
("The Crocodile Hunter"). Terri Irwin, his widow, gave her support to Sea Shepherd, saying, "Whales have always been in Steve's heart and in 2006 he was investigating the possibility of joining the Sea Shepherd on part of its journey to defend these beautiful animals."
The other ship, the 1200-tonne Bob Barker, was named after famous television game-show host and animal activist Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
, who made the purchase of the retired Norwegian whaling vessel possible with a donation of USD$5 million. This ship and the Irwin were both given new dazzle paint jobs in 2011. They are easier to tell apart now since the Irwin has a 77 painted on its bow and the Bob Barker has the old "cartoon shark mouth" design on its bow.
Sea Shepherd acquired the Ocean 7 Adventurer for its 2011 campaign against Japanese whaling in the Antarctic, renaming it MV Gojira. However, after a legal claim, Sea Shepherd have renamed the MV Gojira and the vessel is now known as .
Current
- MY Steve Irwin (previously Robert Hunter)
- MY Bob BarkerMY Bob BarkerThe MY Bob Barker is a ship owned and operated by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, named for former television game show host Bob Barker, whose donation of $5 million to the society facilitated the purchase of the ship. It first started operating for the group in late 2009 / early 2010 in its...
(previously Gojira)
Past
- Sea Shepherd ISea Shepherd IThe Sea Shepherd I was a former fishing trawler owned by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. It was British registered and acquired in 1978 with a grant from the Fund for Animals. Her major action was ramming into the whaler Sierra and was later scuttled by the captain, Paul Watson....
(previously Sea Shepherd) - Sea Shepherd II
- Edward Abbey
- Sirenan
- Whales Forever
- Farley Mowat (previously Ocean Warrior, and Sea Shepherd III)
- Ady Gil
Other watercraft
The group has also operated smaller boats in its campaigns including jet skiJet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
s, Delta RHIB
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
and Zodiac inflatables
Inflatable boat
An inflatable boat is a lightweight boat constructed with its sides and bow made of flexible tubes containing pressurised gas. For smaller boats, the floor and hull beneath it is often flexible. On boats longer than , the floor often consists of three to five rigid plywood or aluminium sheets fixed...
deployed off of the larger vessels. In 1999 Sea Shepherd briefly obtained a small personal submarine
Personal submarine
A personal submarine is a submarine, usually privately funded and constructed, which is usually primarily intended for recreational use, though some are used also for scientific purposes...
in hopes of using it against tribal whalers. The sub however was never fully functional and Sea Shepherd decided to sell it instead for an undisclosed price.
Registration concerns
In August 2006, the Farley Mowat had its registration revoked by Canada. Later that year, Japan requested that the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
strip the Robert Hunter of its flag and for Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
to strip the Farley Mowat of hers. The Robert Hunter was removed from the shipping registers of the United Kingdom since its activities were "inconsistent with her status as a pleasure vessel." The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize withdrew the use of the nation's flag after finding the Farley Mowat was not being used as a pleasure craft and stated that "it could not condone acts that threatened life and property at sea." The Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake offered support and flags of the Iroquois Confederacy to fly on the Farley Mowat and the Robert Hunter.
In early 2010, the Bob Barker briefly falsely flew a Norwegian flag with the intent to deceive Japanese whalers.
The Steve Irwin now sails under the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
flag, but legislation was introduced to ban the group from using it. However, the junior transport minister later noted that there was no further intention of deregistering the Steve Irwin. In February 2010, however, after repeated requests by Japan, a new bill was introduced which would modify the registry law to allow ships to be struck from the registry if their conduct harmed the Netherlands' reputation.
Also in February 2010, Japan announced that Togo had struck the Bob Barker from its registry. The Bob Barker has since been re-registered in the Netherlands.