Posted on 10/28/2010 7:04:18 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
The Sea Shepherd officially announced their new replacement for the sunk Ady Gil at a fundraising benefit in the Hollywood Hills this evening — and Ecorazzi’s Megan Blanchard was on the scene interviewing celebrities and supporters. More on the evening later, but for now, here are some first (cell phone) shots of the new ship that will be joining the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin during Operation No Compromise this coming December.
Anyone else think this thing looks like a Klingon ship from “Star Trek”?
[UPDATE: All signs currently point to this ship being the former "Ocean Adventurer 7" -- a 115ft stabilized monohull twin diesel powered vessel launched in 1998 for the purpose of circumnavigating the world in less than 80 days. She did it in 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes; setting a Guinness World Record in the process. Ironically, that record would be shattered 10 years later by none other than the Earthrace; aka, the Ady Gil.]
[UPDATE 2: At the presentation, Sea Shepherd said that while they've secured the vessel, they've yet to fully pay for it. In addition, it does not have a name, but that any interested donors with deep pockets ($1m+) should certainly contact them. For now the ship is simply being called the "Interceptor".]
[UPDATE 3: Video of the Ocean Adventurer (for charter trips) added below.]
[UPDATE 4: Paul Watson left a comment below saying, "Just a few details on the new vessel. We have not named the vessel yet because we are looking to sell naming rights. Although not paid for, the vessel has been secured. We just need to pay back the loan. The vessel will depart with the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin with a completely refitted new engine and two propellers. It is larger than the Ady Gil, not as fast, but fast enough for our purposes, it is stronger, carries more crew, fuel and supplies and will suit our needs perfectly. We now have three ships, an upgraded helicopter, eighty crew, new equipment and I believe we will be more effective this year than last year, and last year was a very effective year. I was very tempted to name the vessel “Godzilla.” but we need a sponsor."]
[UPDATE 5: Some higher-res photoshopped images (as suspected, the ship hasn't been given the full SS color scheme yet) courtesy of Kadi Thingvall added below.]
Please let me know if you want on or off the Whale Wars ping list.
Sink the sucker.
Will they be scuttling this one as well?
Can’t wait to see the vid of it sinking.
Holy Whale **it, Fatman! POW! EEECK! CRUNCH!
LOL. Does not look very USEFUL.
(Cue Klingon Opera Music)
A whale IUD?
Davy Jones can’t wait to open his locker for this one...
Some day when my children are scuba diving on the wreck they’ll be able to say “I remember watching this very ship get sunk on television.”
Rock breaks scissors and steel ships break plastic commie hippy pirate boats.
Let’s see how fast this one will sink.
Where’s the spud launcher?
It take a freaky class of boat like this to beat the world record set By the 1000 foot SS United States back in the 50’s.
I watched an episode where the engine temporarily stopped and the narrator said that in these seas, without a working motor, lives are at stake from not being able to maneuver the ship into the waves or to avoid icebergs and that calling the coast guard is not an option.
Then, on another episode, they were using these batman looking speed boats to drop a “fouling” line in the path of the Japanese ship to take out its propeller.
If they admit that lives are at risk without the ability to maneuver, then I am all in favor of the Japenese opening fire on these craft. Screw the water cannons and high pitched sound machines...kill these pirates before their actions kill you.
“Admiral Coco Puffs (Paul Watson) paints the flags of all the ships he sinks on the Steve Irwin. Of course most of them were under his command.”
I would like to see that crap hit with a 5” gun.
>> Rock breaks scissors and steel ships break plastic commie hippy pirate boats.
That’s a happy thought, but it won’t get that far.
A boat like that needs maintenance skillz. The hippies ain’t got ‘em.
I’ll bet dollars to whale-fat-fried-donuts that this thing never sees action.
And here it is back in its glory days. Notice the BP logo painted around the hull. Savor the irony.
Some interesting history from Wikipedia:
In December 2007 the Ocean 7 Adventurer was chartered to retrieve a demasted yacht, the IMOCA 60 Delta Dore from the Southern Ocean. The Delta Dore was partaking in the Barcelona World Race. The yacht skippered by Jérémie Beyou and Sidney Gavignet was at position 47°00 S 033° 25 E, nearly a thousand miles south east from South Africa, drifting slowly at between 1 and 2 knots east. An hour after the mast had collapsed backwards, it had to be cut free and dumped into the ocean, as it was likely to damage the hull. The yacht had 188 litres of diesel on board, but this was insufficient to motor back to the mainland. The Ocean 7 team were approached with regard to salvaging the yacht. Skippered by co-owner David de Villiers, the Ocean 7 Adventurer set sail for the Southern Ocean and after locating the yacht, it was taken in tow with a 200 m line. This rescue set a record for the longest tow in South African maritime history (850 nm).
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