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New Anti-Whaling Vessel Looks Like Something From Batman

By John Farrier in Car & Vehicle on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:57 am



Photo: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, best known for its aggressive tactics against whaling vessels, had added a stealthy, high-speed boat to its fleet. At The National Post, Jeremy Barker writes:

The Ady Gil, a bio-diesel powered trimaran, can hit 40 knots and Captain Paul Watson plans to sail it quickly into harms way….The Andy Gil, which has circled the globe in a little over 60 days, has been coated with radar blocking black paint, which will be used as an ‘intercept and blocking’ weapon against the Japanese fleet.

More pictures and video at the link.

Link | Sea Shepherd Conservation Society


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COMMENT
  1. Michael W
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 9:16 am

    Pedantic point Radar blocking paint would not reduce signature, maybe Radar absorbing paint is meant instead. Or maybe its just hype.

    It has already sailed into harms way as Earthrace, killing a fisherman in collision off Guatemala.

    http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/boat-design/earthrace-tragedy/

  2. pwscott
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 9:19 am

    And when the whales are safe we can run Marlboros and Acapulco gold into Halifax. :^P

  3. zavatone
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 9:36 am

    Read the side of the boat. It's named the Ady Gil, not the Andy Gil.

  4. Skipweasel
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    They might come to regret making it stealthy when some whaler cuts it in half and then claims they couldn't see it on the radar.

  5. dutchboy
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Someones coffers are full.

  6. clinton robert labombard
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    With that much money they should be arming the whales.

  7. DanoftheNorth
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    Yeah! Leave those whales alone! Load the torpedos!

  8. Bobert
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I think it is a shame that so much money has gone towards this boat when we should be focusing more on developing sustainable whaling operations. The Japanese conform to international law and only capture whales for scientific research, and I am fairly certain that they practice solid catch and release in most instances.

  9. Justin
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Don't worry guys. I eat this whale FOR SCIENCE!

  10. Skipweasel
    Nov 10th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Bobert - the Japanese comply with the letter of the law, but not the spirit. The vast majority of the meat ends up on the food market - were this not so the "scientific" research would stop dead in its tracks.

  11. Christophe
    Nov 11th, 2009 at 8:18 am

    if those people really meant to stop whalers, they ought to listen to Somalis pirates recommandations...

    from one original comment : "toy boat, toy boat, toy boat".

  12. Robolasse
    Nov 11th, 2009 at 10:04 am

    Lets have som science food!

  13. Bobert
    Nov 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am

    Skipweasel - I think that is pretty resourceful to actually consume any extra whale meat after the scientific research has been completed. It may serve as a valuable souce of protein and essential blubber to an undernourashed population.

  14. sal
    Nov 11th, 2009 at 11:01 am

    I think they're working their way to making Nemo's Nautilus. "RAMMING SPEED!"

  15. therealsteve
    Nov 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    And what happens when the japanese whalers decide enough is enough and issue the warning that if we are attacked in international waters we will sink your vessel?

  16. Whales First Not Media!
    Dec 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 am

    We're not sure if anyone stopped for a minute during the "1 Million dollar big check moment" with Sea Shepherd last month to really think about the acquisition of their high speed Earthrace vessel.

    Renamed the Ady Gil and painted a nice black, the self styled eco warriors from Sea Shepherd have been touting this ship as their new weapon against Japanese whaling.

    All we noticed were the two giant propellers at the back of the vessel that to us looked like big trouble for whales.

    With a top speed of 45 knots the renamed Ady Gil credits at least one very serious collision with "submerged debris" during her life at sea.

    "Shortly after leaving Palau on day 34, Earthrace struck submerged debris which sheared two blades off the port propeller and bent the drive shaft. This necessitated a return to Palau in order to assess the damage and remove the prop."

    The propellers are German-designed, carbon propellers that are 36 inches in diameter.

    To date Sea Shepherd have not provided "propeller shrouding" for these whirling Ginsu Knives of the Antarctic and intend on putting this vessel in between Japans harpoon vessels and the whales. Propeller shrouding would protect whales from these extreme blades while still allowing this vessel to "close intercept" with the animals and Japanese whalers.

    Did Sea Shepherd or anyone in the eco media stop to think about this?

    Clearly, in the rush to congratulate yet another futile season of reality television, no one did.

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