Sea Shepherd Australia - Operation Relentless - The Fleet | About the Campaign

The Fleet

Steve Irwin

Length: 53 meters
Date Built: 1975
Max Speed: 16 knots
Country of Origin: Scotland, UK
Former Name: Westra
Former Job: Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessel
Most Interesting Fact: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency used the Westra to intercept and arrest poachers, as well as monitor compliance of the fisheries industry with Scottish and European Union law
First Sea Shepherd Expedition: December of 2007, Antarctic Whale Defence Campaign, Operation Migaloo
Original SSCS Name: The Robert Hunter in memory of Captain Paul Watson’s friend and Greenpeace co-founder Bob Hunter
Current Name: In honour of the late Australian conservationist Steve Irwin
Next Mission: Operation Relentless – Captain Sid Chakravarty

Bob Barker

Length: 52.2 meters
Date Built: 1950
Country of Origin: Norway
Former Job: Whaling harpoon vessel until 1962
Most Interesting Fact: After retiring as a whaling ship in 1962, the vessel operated as a submarine seeker for the Norwegian Coast Guard, a fuel resupply vessel, and conducted paid Arctic wildlife tours
Former Name: Polaris
Current Name: The Bob Barker – in honour of its benefactor – American television personality, icon, and animal advocate Bob Barker
First Sea Shepherd Expedition: Departed December 18, 2009, from Mauritius, Africa, to defend the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary on Operation Waltzing Matilda
Next Mission: Operation Relentless – Captain Peter Hammarstedt

Sam Simon

Length: 56 meters
Date Built: 1993, Tokyo IHI Shipyard
Max Speed: 16 knots
Country of Origin: Japan
Most Interesting Fact: It was once a part of the Japanese whaling fleet
Former Job: Meteorological Observation Ship for Japan Government
Former Name: Seifu Maru
Current Name: Sam Simon - in honour of 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 Defence Campaign, Operation Zero Tolerance
Next Mission: Operation Relentless - Captain Adam Meyerson

* Specs are not indicative of recent upgrades