Meet Sea Shepherd's Fleet

• Social Studies
• 6-9 Grade
• 9-12 Grade

Introduction

This presentation has been prepared for teachers to learn more about Sea Shepherd and the work we have been undertaking for over 40 years to protect the ocean and marine wildlife.

Instructions

A teachers introduction to the Sea Shepherd Fleet before teaching our lessons.

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2021

SEA SHEPHERD FLEET

Marine Conservation in Action

OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

Take a look at the map to find the locations and details of our most recent campaigns.

WORLD MAP
Take a look at the map to find the locations and details of our most recent campaigns.
INSERT WORLD MAP WITH HOVER POINTS FOR CAMPAIGN LOCATIONS AND SHORT SUMMARY – Use campaign logos and/or ships images to highlight locations.

OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Take a look at the map to find the locations of our most recent campaigns.

SEA SHEPHERD FLEET

Sea Shepherd has the largest privately owned navy in the world, working
tirelessly to protect marine wildlife worldwide.

Our ships are crewed
mainly by volunteers and funded by our supporters who believe in
securing the future of the ocean.

When Sea Shepherd started in 1977 Captain Watson had no funds and no ship, but that didn’t stop him. With support from the Fund for Animals and RSPCA (USA) Captain Watson purchased our first vessel in 1978, called the Sea Shepherd.   

SEA SHEPHERD FLEET

Sea Shepherd has the largest privately owned navy in the world, working tirelessly to protect marine wildlife worldwide.

Our ships are crewed mainly by volunteers and funded by our supporters who believe in securing the future of the ocean.

When Sea Shepherd started in 1977 Captain Watson had no funds and no ship, but that didn’t stop him. With support from the Fund for Animals and RSPCA (USA) Captain Watson purchased our first vessel in 1978, called the Sea Shepherd.  

CURRENT FLEET

 We have twelve vessels:

M/Y the Ocean Warrior (our flagship)

M/Y Bob Barker

M/Y Sam Simo,

M/Y Brigitte Bardot,

M/V Jairo Mora Sandoval,

M/V Farley Mowatt, M/V John Paul DeJoira, M/V Sharpie

R/V Martin Sheen

M/V White Holly

M/Y Bronner

M/V Conrad

and the recently retired M/V Steve Irwin, who after over ten years service is still a favourite with our crew and supporters.

CURRENT FLEET

We have:

M/Y the Ocean Warrior (our flagship)

M/Y Age of Union,

M/Y Allankay

M/V Jairo Mora Sandoval,
M/Y Bronner

M/V Conrad

M/Y Sea Eagle

M/V Farley Mowatt,
R/V Martin Sheen

and the recently retired M/V Steve Irwin, who after over ten years service is still a favourite with our crew and supporters.

The Ocean Warrior is our flagship vessel and is the first vessel in our history we have purchased as brand new. It was custom-made for us with funds awarded to Sea Shepherd Global by the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s “Dream Project”. The Ocean Warrior’s maiden campaign was Operation Nemesis.  The M/Y Ocean Warrior is 54m in length and is specifically designed to send to Antarctica to take on poachers.  It is as fast supply vessel and the fastest ship, with a top speed of over 30 knots. It carries a crew of 14

M/Y OCEAN WARRIOR

The Ocean Warrior is our flagship vessel and is the first vessel in our history we have purchased as brand new. It was custom-made for us with funds awarded to Sea Shepherd Global by the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s “Dream Project”. The Ocean Warrior’s maiden campaign was Operation Nemesis, Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctica Whale Defence Campaign. 

The M/Y Ocean Warrior is 54m in length and is specifically designed to send to Antarctica to take on poachers.  It is as fast supply vessel and the fastest ship we have ever had, with a top speed of over 30 knots. Which is faster than the Japanese harpoon vessels. It carries a crew of 14.  

The Ocean Warrior is our flagship vessel and is the first vessel in our history we have purchased as brand new. It was custom-made for us with funds awarded to Sea Shepherd Global by the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s “Dream Project”. The Ocean Warrior’s maiden campaign was Operation Nemesis.  The M/Y Ocean Warrior is 54m in length and is specifically designed to send to Antarctica to take on poachers.  It is as fast supply vessel and the fastest ship, with a top speed of over 30 knots. It carries a crew of 14.

M/Y BOB BARKER   In 2009 Sea Shepherd secretly purchased and refitted a former Norwegian whaler in Africa. It's first mission was Operation Waltzing Matilda. Interesting Fact: The Bob Barker originally operated as a whaling ship until 1962, and later confronted Sea Shepherd during its life as a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel.
The Bob is about 52m long and has a crew of around 36. 

M/Y BOB BARKER
Thanks to a $5 million contribution from the legendary American game show host Bob Barker, in 2009 Sea Shepherd secretly purchased and refitted a former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice-strengthened chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th for its first mission against the Japanese whaling fleet, Operation Waltzing Matilda. Interesting Fact: The Bob Barker originally operated as a whaling ship until 1962, and later confronted Sea Shepherd during its life as a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel.

The Bob is about 52m long and has a crew of around 36. The vessel has campaigned in Antarctica against the whalers and now in Africa where it is focusing on anti-poaching campaigns. It holds the record for the longest pursuit of a poacher, after chasing the Thunder from Antarctica to Sao Tome over 110 days.

M/Y BOB BARKER  (RETIRED) In 2009 Sea Shepherd secretly purchased and refitted a former Norwegian whaler in Africa. It's first mission was Operation Waltzing Matilda. Interesting Fact: The Bob Barker originally operated as a whaling ship until 1962, and later confronted Sea Shepherd during its life as a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel. The Bob is about 52m long and has a crew of around 36. 

The M/Y Sam Simon was named after the Hollywood producer most famously known for developing The Simpsons, who served on Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors until his passing away in 2015. His generous donation made it possible to purchase the former Japanese vessel in 2012, when it joined its first Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign that December, Operation Zero Tolerance. Interesting Fact: The Sam Simon, originally named the Seifu Maru, was a Meteorological Observation Ship for the Japanese whaling fleet.

M/Y SAM SIMON
The Sam Simon was named after the Hollywood producer most famously known for developing The Simpsons, an animal rights advocate who served on Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors until his passing away in 2015. His generous donation made it possible to purchase the former Japanese vessel in 2012, when it joined its first Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign that December, Operation Zero Tolerance. Interesting Fact: The Sam Simon, originally named the Seifu Maru, was a Meteorological Observation Ship for the Japanese whaling fleet.

The M/Y Sam Simon was named after the Hollywood producer most famously known for developing The Simpsons, who served on Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors until his passing away in 2015. His generous donation made it possible to purchase the former Japanese vessel in 2012, when it joined its first Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign that December, Operation Zero Tolerance. Interesting Fact: The Sam Simon, originally named the Seifu Maru, was a Meteorological Observation Ship for the Japanese whaling fleet.

M/V STEVE IRWIN - RETIRED

M/V STEVE IRWIN - RETIRED

Our most well known vessel the Steve Irwin and former flagship was retired in December 2018. It was an ex-Scottish Fishery Patrol Vessel built in 1975, which we purchased in 2006. It is about 59 metres long and weighs about 885 tonnes. It could carry a crew of up to 46.

The Steve was originally named the Robert Hunter. Its first expedition was the 2006/2007 Antarctic Whale Defence Campaign Operation Leviathan. The ship was renamed M/Y Steve Irwin in December 2007 in honour of the late Australian conservationist and Sea Shepherd supporter. The Steve Irwin has embarked on 18 ocean defence campaigns, more than any other Sea Shepherd vessel at that time.

MV Farley Mowat, MV John Paul DeJoira and MV Sharpie are ex-US Coast Guard island class cutters, who have joined the Sea Shepherd fleet.  They are 34 metres long, reaching speeds of 25+ kn and carry a crew of 16.

MV Farley Mowatt, (mention first Farley confiscated by Canadian government)
MV John Paul DeJoira,
MV Sharpie

MV Farley Mowat is an ex-US Coast Guard island class cutters, which has joined the Sea Shepherd fleet.  It is 34m long, reaching speeds of 25+ kn and carry a crew of 16.

R/V Martin Sheen

 Named in honour of long time supporter and actor Martin Sheen. It is our research vessel, which joined the fleet in 2014. It is just over 27m and crew of 6. The vessel has participated in research on whales, microplastics and impacts of salmon farms.

R/V Martin Sheen

Named in honour of long time supporter and actor Martin Sheen. It is our research vessel, which joined the fleet in 2014. It is just over 27m and crew of 6.

The vessel has participated in research on whales, microplastics and impacts of salmon farms.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

RHIBS or rigid hulled inflatable boats.  Most of our larger vessels have one or two RHIBS on board, to be used during campaigns.  The speed of these boats make them ideal for chasing down poaching vessels, they can then be boarded by the law enforcement officials we are working with.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

RHIBS or rigid hulled inflatable boats.  Most of our larger vessels have one or two RHIBS on board, to be used during campaigns.  The speed of these boats make them ideal for chasing down poaching vessels, they can then be boarded by the law enforcement officials we are working with.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

Helicopters and drones – these are useful tools in our fight to defend the oceans. With helicopters we are able to fly longer distances to try and track down illegal poachers, this was very useful in chasing the whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean and being able to document their activities. 

Drones are our latest valuable weapon in this war.  Drones are able to fly at any time of day or night to document illegal fishing and locate illegal nets.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

Helicopters and drones – these are useful tools in our fight to defend the oceans. With helicopters we are able to fly longer distances to try and track down illegal poachers, this was very useful in chasing the whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean and being able to document their activities.


Drones are our latest valuable weapon in this war.  Drones are able to fly at any time of day or night to document illegal fishing and locate illegal nets.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

Photographers and videographers

Our photographers and videographers are key to documenting illegal activities.  Capturing the images and video of illegal operations provides evidence for law enforcement to use in prosecuting perpetrators and enables us to show the world what is taking place out on the oceans.

OUR WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS

Photographers and videographers

Our photographers and videographers are key to documenting illegal activities.  Capturing the images and video of illegal operations provides evidence for law enforcement to use in prosecuting perpetrators and enables us to show the world what is taking place out on the oceans.

www.seashepherdglobal.org