NORWEGIAN NEWS: NRK

Link: http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7521362

Photo: Barbara Veiga

           Andhøy er i god behald, tre framleis sakna

Mannskapet på 'Steve Irwin' fann ein tom redningslfåte på havet i dag.

Foto: Barbara Veiga

Kaptein Jarle Andhøy på skuta «Berserk» ringde sjølv Hovudredningssentralen i Bodø.

• BENT TANDSTADbent.tandstad@nrk.no

Publisert 23.02.2011 22:49. Oppdatert i dag 05:08.

• Skriv ut
• Del/tips

Kaptein Jarle Andhøy og ein til frå mannskapet har vore på polpunktet med ATV-ar.

Foto: Arne Raanaas/NRK

– Klokka 0130 ringde Jarle Andhøy hit til Hovudredningssentralen i Bodø og sa at han og ein frå mannskapet er 100 miles frå Scott-basen. Han kunne fortelje at de er i god form, men at det er mykje vind i området, seier redningsleiar Finn Tore Sortland ved Hovudredningssentralen i Nord-Noreg.

Betyr det at tre framleis er sakna?

–Det stemmer at det er tre igjen på «Berserk» og det er dei vi no leitar etter. Andøy fortalde at det var nokre dagar sidan han hadde vore i kontakt med mannskapet på båten, seier Sortland. 

VIDEO: Sjå innslaget i Kveldsnytt.

I går søkte båtar og helikopter i tre timar etter den sakna norske seglbåten «Berserk» i Sørishavet, men det er enno ikkje funne spor etter fartøyet. Ein åttedel av området er gjennomsøkt.

Det er eit helikopter frå Sea Sheperd-fartøyet «Steve Irwin» som er i lufta for å leite etter den sakna norske båten. Det er fine leiteforhold i området med god sikt og ikkje så sterk vind.

«Vi har søkt gjennom rundt ein åttandedel av området»

Mal Holland

Søk nummer to

Navigasjonsoffiser om bord på «Steve Irwin», Mal Holland, seier til NRK ved 23-tida i kveld at helikopteret er i ferd med å fylle drivstoff for å gjere klar til eit søk nummer to. Då var klokka 11 på føremiddagen der nede.

Holland fortel at dei konsentrerer seg om å leite på sjøen og langs strendene, og at helikopteret ikkje har leitt etter dei to som kan vere på land.

- Både vi og den newzealandske redningstenesta har prøvd å kome i kontakt med «Berserk» via radio, men utan å lukkast, seier han.

Det er ikkje funne spor etter den sakna norske siglbåten 'Berserk'.

Foto: wildvikings

«- Ja, vi har håp om å finne mannskapet på "Berserk" i live.»

Mal Holland

NEWS: Life Raft Discovered by the Crew of the Steve Irwin

Link: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110223-1.html

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Life Raft Discovered by the Crew of the Steve Irwin Crewmembers recover the life raft from the icy waters. Photo: Barbara VeigaThe Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin discovered a life raft this morning at 0700 hours (NZT) at the position of 76 Degrees 59 Minutes South and 167 Degrees 26 Minutes East. Quartermaster Cassandra Smith of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, just barely spotted the black life raft because of its dark coloring on a very dark sea. The life raft was empty of people and supplies, and was half full of water. “It looked like it has taken a terrible beating,” said Captain Paul Watson. There was no identifying name or number on the life raft. Sea Shepherd reported the finding to New Zealand Search and Rescue. Apparently the life raft matches the description of the life rafts used on the New Zealand Naval vessel Wellington. The Wellington reported losing three life rafts overboard in the storm. The crew of the Steve Irwin recovered the life raft, which was a difficult task because the ship’s hydraulic crane and the decks were covered in thick ice. Extreme weather conditions overnight have now abated and at 0800 hours, Sea Shepherd pilot American Chris Aultman, took off from the deck of the Steve Irwin to begin an aerial search of the area. “We are hopeful that the crew may still be with the yacht or were able to make it to shore. We will do a complete search of the area in accordance to instructions provided by New Zealand Search and Rescue,” said Captain Watson. Update It is now established that two of the five man Norwegian expeditionary team are alive, while the three presumably onboard theBerserk yacht remain missing. The two man exploration party was discovered about 100 miles inland bound for Ross Island. They said they were to meet the remaining crew of the Berserk at Shackleton’s Hut on Ross Island. The two Norwegians have indicated that they do not need assistance; they are now bound for McMurdo Station. The Steve Irwin is in McMurdo Sound deploying their helicopter on a search grid for the missing yacht and three crew presumed to be onboard. Sea Shepherd helicopter pilot Chris Aultman is presently enroute to Shackleton’s Hut to see if any of the men from the boat crew are there. So far there has been no sign the yacht itself. Crewmembers recover the life raft from the icy waters. Photo: Barbara Veiga The Nancy Burnet helicopter takes off for an aerial survey. Photo: Barbara Veiga A bird’s eye view of the Steve Irwin’s ice frozen deck. Photo: Barbara Veiga

Victory in the Southern Ocean Day for the Whales

Link: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110217-1.html

Thursday, February 17, 2011

VSO Day Victory in the Southern Ocean Day for the Whales Pilot Chris Aultman and crewmember Mark Cullivan in an emotional embrace. Photo: Barbara VeigaIt’s official – the Japanese whaling fleet has called it quits in the Southern Ocean, at least for this season. And if they return next season, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will be ready to resume their efforts to obstruct and disable illegal Japanese whaling operations. “The Nisshin Maru made a significant course change immediately after the Japanese government made it official that the whaling fleet has been recalled,” said Captain Alex Cornelissen from the Bob Barker. “She looks like she’s going home!” The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker has been tailing the Japanese Nisshin Maru factory ship since February 9th making it impossible for the whalers to continue their illegal whaling operations. “I have a crew of 88 very happy people from 23 different nations including Japan and they are absolutely thrilled that the whalers are heading home and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is now indeed a real sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson. The Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin, Bob Barker, and Gojira will remain in the Southern Ocean to escort the Japanese ships northward. “We will not leave the whale sanctuary until the last whaling ship has departed,” said Gojira captain Locky MacLean. “This is a great victory for the whales,” said Captain Watson, “but we did not do this alone. Without the support of the people of Australia and New Zealand, we would not have been able to send voyages out for seven seasons from Australian and New Zealand ports. We are grateful to Senator Bob Brown and the Australian Greens Party. We are very grateful to Mr. Bob Barker for giving us the ship that turned the tide in our efforts to force the Japanese fleet from these waters. We are grateful to all our onshore staff and volunteers, supporting members and ship crews. We are grateful to the Chilean Navy and the government of France for their support. It is a very happy day for people everywhere who love whales and our oceans.” It’s official – the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is over for this season and the whalers did not even take 10% of their quota. Sea Shepherd estimates that over 900 whales have been saved this year. “It’s a great day for the whales,” said Sea Shepherd Chief Cook on the Steve Irwin Laura Dakin of Canberra, Australia, “and it’s a great day for humanity!” Operation No Compromise

Australian media: Coast trio helps stop whale hunt

Link:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/18/three-sunshine-coast-sailors-have-helped-to-shut-d/
MEDIA: SUNSHINE COAST DAILY

Coast trio helps stop whale hunt

Nikkii Joyce | 18th February 2011

Steve Irwin sailing master Mal Holland, from Yaroomba, explains the new action plan to the crew at Antarctica.

THREE Sunshine Coast sailors have helped to shut down the annual Antarctic whale hunt.

Brothers Mal and Campbell Holland and Cassandra Smith are part of the crews on three Sea Shepherd ships that have chased the Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean for the past month.

The whalers suspended operations because, they said, the anti-whaling group had made operations “unsafe”.

The sailing master of Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin, Mal Holland, who is from Yaroomba, said it was the conservationists’ biggest success in the seven years it had been defending the whales.

“They could be going home. It will be about three days before we can determine that, but in the meantime we will be sticking right with them,” Mal, 35, who has been on Sea Shepherd ships for four years, said of the whalers yesterday.

His younger brother, 32-year-old Campbell, of Woombye, is in his second year with the fleet.

Campbell is the chief engineer on Bob Barker.

“We are a seafaring family and have always had a connection with the natural world and the natural environment,” Mal said.

Marcoola’s Cassandra Smith, 38, is on her first Antarctic campaign.

PHOTO CREDIT: BARBARA VEIGA

Sea Shepherd Announces the No Compromise Sale

Link: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110216-3.html

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sea Shepherd Announces the No Compromise Sale Get 10% off all e-store Purchases Sea Shepherd Conservation Society continues to face the Japanese whaling fleet during this year’s Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, Operation No Compromise. As of February 16th, the Japanese government has announced that they have halted their whaling activities in the Southern Ocean due to Sea Shepherd’s direct action efforts at sea. For a limited time only, Sea Shepherd has extended their gratitude to all of their supporters by offering a 10% discount off all merchandise in their global e-stores (excluding the GSI surfboard). This sale will run from February 16 - 22. Your purchase will help Sea Shepherd to continue defending ocean wildlife worldwide. Please use the following coupon code at checkout: WHALES4EVER. (We are currently improving our Sea Shepherd Australia store.  If you experience any difficulties using the code in this store, please know that your purchase will be discounted 10% before payment is processed). (L to R) Captains Paul Watson and Locky MacLean and pilot Chris Aultman pose in Sea Shepherd logo apparel in front of the Gojira. Photo: Barbara Veiga Operation No Compromise

Sea Shepherd News!!!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Link: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110216-2.html

The Whalers Have Stopped Running East and are now Returning West The Steve Irwin en route to the Ross Sea. Photo: Barbara ViegaAfter heading eastward at full speed for 2,000 miles, and just before entering Drake’s Passage into the Southern Ocean, the illegal Japanese whaling factory ship the Nisshin Maru recently made a complete u-turn and is now heading due west back the way it has travelled over the last week. First Officer Peter Hammarstedt of Sweden, onboard the Bob Barkerfollowing the Nisshin Maru, reported that the whale poachers acted suddenly once they reached the position of 64 degrees 4 minutes south and 074 degrees 10 minutes west at 1700 (GMT). The whalers also decreased their speed and are heading westward at 11 knots, down from a speed of 14 knots they were traveling as they headed east. The turnabout could mean one of two things. First, they may be on a great circle route back to Japan, or second, they may be returning to the whaling grounds in the Ross Sea where the three Japanese harpoon vessels may be waiting to continue their illegal slaughter. Reports from Japan that the Japanese Fisheries Agency has suspended the hunt have not specified how long this suspension will last. It could be permanent, for the season, for two weeks, or only a few days. The three Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin, Bob Barker, and Gojira will remain in the Southern Ocean until the whaling vessels depart. “The Japanese Fisheries Agency had no choice but to suspend whaling operations. Sea Shepherd had already enforced a suspension of operations by blocking all whaling operations since February 9th and blocking 75% of all whaling operations for the month of January,” said Captain Paul Watson “We will not allow the Japanese whalers to kill another whale down here in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.” Captain Alex Cornelissen of the Bob Barker is in contact with the Chilean Navy to report the movements of the whaling ship to Chile. The Chilean government is closely monitoring the movements of the Nisshin Maru, and has made it clear to the Japanese whalers that whaling and the transportation of whale meat through Chilean waters is illegal. For now, the Steve Irwinand the Gojira will remain in the Ross Sea to await the movements of the whalers. Operation No Compromise

MIDIA BRASILEIRA: Folha.com

07/02/2011 - 10h56

Link: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/ambiente/871766-na-antartida-brasileiros-tentam-evitar-abate-de-baleias.shtml

Na Antártida, brasileiros tentam evitar abate de baleiasLUIZ GUSTAVO CRISTINO

COLABORAÇÃO PARA A FOLHA

A paisagem é linda, mas os voluntários que vão à Antártida tentar evitar a morte de baleias vivem em tensão permanente de guerra com os navios baleeiros.

Os métodos da ONG Sea Shepherd são variados. A fotógrafa carioca Bárbara Veiga, 27, exemplifica: "Conseguimos, por meio de cordas com metal dentro que se enrolam na hélice, interceder em um dos navios, que agora está parado. Eles provavelmente terão de colocar alguns mergulhadores na água para cortar a corda, e devem atrasar a caça por dias."

Vote na enquete sobre atuação de grupos de proteção animal

Michael Williams/Efe

Foto mostra navio japonês cuja pesca a baleias na Antártida foi interceptada por embarcação do grupo ativista Sea Shepherd

Além dos cabos, os voluntários lançam projéteis com gás de pimenta no deque dos barcos baleeiros japoneses. Se necessário, eles também ficam no caminho entre os navios caçadores e as baleias, ou tentam danificar seus radares, para que os animais não sejam localizados.

Todas essas atitudes são, claro, revidadas. A brasileira Veiga, que está desde 5 de dezembro a bordo do Steve Irwin, barco da Sea Shepherd (com mais quatro membros do Brasil), diz se sentir sob risco constante.

Mas, para ela, "não há nada mais especial do que documentar este crime". Não é a primeira vez que Veiga participa de uma ONG: ela já foi do Greenpeace por quatro anos. Faz isso por causa dos seus ideais.

No Sea Shepherd, a sensação de insegurança descrita por Veiga é compartilhada por outro voluntário. "Uma vez, japoneses atiraram contra o nosso navio. Todos nós ficamos dentro, mas, quando o capitão Paul Watson saiu, ele levou um tiro no peito. Graças a Deus, ele estava com colete à prova de balas", diz o relações-públicas Daniel Fracasso, 31, que esteve na primeira campanha da Sea Sheperd, de dezembro de 2002, com outros 44 tripulantes.

Leia íntegra da reportagem na edição da Folha desta segunda-feira (7 de fevereiro)

-Sea Shepherd News-

Link:http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110208-1.html Tuesday, February 08, 2011

The Steve Irwin Departs Wellington for the Southern Ocean  Photo: Barbara VeigaThe Steve Irwin’s brief stay in Wellington, New Zealand provided the Sea Shepherd crew with everything they needed to return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to continue their interception and disruption of the illegal Japanese whaling operations. “We were able to take on all the donations of food, especially fresh produce, that we need for all three vessels,” said Steve Irwin Chief Cook Laura Dakin of Canberra.  “The crews on the Bob Barker and the Gojirawill be happy, they have not had fresh vegetables or fruit for weeks.” Sea Shepherd’s international appeal for funds to refuel the Steve Irwinwas enormously successful, allowing the ship to take on a full load of 250,000 liters of marine diesel fuel. In addition to being refueled, the Steve Irwin took on enough provisions to also resupply both the Bob Barker and the Gojira. Furthermore, one of the Bob Barker’s inflatable Zeppelin boats that was damaged in a confrontation with the whalers, has been completely repaired and is ready to be returned back to the vessel.    An incredible amount of donated tools, supplies, equipment, and services flooded onto the ship during the three days the vessel was berthed at Queen’s Wharf in Wellington. The crew received complimentary dental services, along with donated meals at local dining establishments. “The people of Wellington have been awesome in their support for the whales and our efforts to end whaling in the Southern Ocean,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Within a week, we will be back with our other two ships on the trail of the Japanese whaling fleet, fully supplied, and with the ability to take our campaign to the end of the whaling season in March.”    The crew of the Steve Irwin regretfully had to say goodbye to some very good shipmates and friends who had to leave the ship to return home to their families and work. These included the ship’s manager Catherine Mansart of Belgium, 3rd Engineer Marybeth Thoren of the United States, 1st Officer Gunter Schwabenland and his wife Quartermaster Roberta Kleber both from Brazil, Communications Officer Douglas O’Neil of Tasmania, welder and deckhand Lar Steffens of Germany, and deckhand Michael Lindegger from Switzerland. We also dropped off Bob Barker’s Communications Officer Fabrizio Sestini of Italy, and crewmember Mike Glab who unfortunately had to return to his home in Brisbane as his home was recently flooded during his service at sea. Sea Shepherd has six new replacement crewmembers on the Steve Irwin to account for the eight that had to depart. They include new Communications Officer Nuno Ramos Fernandez of Spain, replacement engineer Bradley Latimer of New Zealand, and three replacement Australian deckhands Cassandra Smith from Queensland, Aisha Reynolds from Victoria, and Megan Jolley of Tasmania. Jeffrey Milstein also joins Sea Shepherd as Security Officer from the United States. Thanks to all of our wonderful and dedicated supporters in New Zealand for their support and assistance in helping Sea Shepherd re-supply as quickly as possible to enable them to defend the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Operation No Compromise

Atitude feminina em alto mar!

Nota do dia:

Eu preciso confessar que não há nada mais recompensador (pessoalmente e profissionalmente) do que fotografar as mulheres a bordo do Steve Irwin, que dedicam seu tempo e energia ao ativismo por uma causa tão nobre e especial no Oceano Austral.

Esquerda para direita: A tradutora japonesa, Izumi,  Georgie e Alex - na proa do Steve Irwin aguardando aparições dos pinguins e focas.

A marinheira australiana, Georgie.

-Photos by Barbara Veiga-

New Photo from the Ice: Campaign Progress Report

Link: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110130-1.html

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Operation No Compromise Campaign Progress Report  Steve Irwin in ice field (enlarge) photo: Barbara VeigaReport: December 2nd, 2010 to January 31st, 2011 Day 61 of campaign, day 31 in pursuit of the Japanese whaling fleet Sea Shepherd Conservation Society fleet: The Steve Irwin: (The Netherlands) Captain Paul Watson and crew of 42 Departed Hobart on December 2nd, 2010 Intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on December 31st, 2010 The Bob Barker: (The Netherlands) Captain Alex Cornelissen and a crew of 35 Departed Hobart on December 2nd, 2010 Intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on December 31st, 2010 The Gojira: (Australia) Captain Locky MacLean with a crew of 11 Departed Hobart on December 11th, 2010 Intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on December 31st, 2010 Total crew: 88 This year is the weakest the Japanese fleet has ever been with only four ships including the Nisshin Maru factory ship, and the three harpoon vessels theYushin Maru, Yushin Maru No. 2, and Yushin Maru No. 3. The spotter vessels and the Shonan Maru No. 2 security vessel are absent from the whaling fleet this year. The Japanese whaling fleet arrived two weeks late to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. All three Sea Shepherd ships were able to intercept the whaling fleet before any whales were killed on December 31st, 2010. The Nisshin Maru factory ship escaped and fled eastward. Two of the harpoon vessels were assigned to stay on the tails of the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin to prevent the Sea Shepherd ships from closing in on the factory ship. Although this tactic works for the whalers to keep Sea Shepherd from moving in on the factory ship, it comes with the price of removing two of the three harpoon vessels from the hunt for the entire month. Due to fuel limitations, the Yushin Maru ships had to relieve each other, with the Yushin Maru No. 3 relieving the Yushin Maruin mid January. This had the effect of removing a third harpoon vessel from the hunt for days at a time because the Nisshin Maru had to remain out of helicopter range of the Steve Irwin. Summary: Sea Shepherd has had two of the three harpoon vessels under 24-hour observation for 32 days, during which time these vessels have not killed a single whale. This means the efficiency of the Japanese whale hunting has been cut by two-thirds. The Nisshin Maru could continue whaling with its one available harpoon vessel, but not with 100 percent efficiency because of both ships fleeing eastward, westward, eastwards again, and then south. Due to time spent in waters too far north and on refueling from the factory ship, the greatest amount of time this harpoon vessel could have efficiently operated as a hunter killer vessel is only 25 to 50 percent. With three harpoon ships, the whaling fleet can usually kill eight to nine whales per day, of course that is when weather, ice conditions, and whale availability allow for this number to be taken. If all three ships were operating to full efficiency in excellent conditions, they could take as many as 240-300 whales during a single month of operations. By Sea Shepherd removing two of the harpoon ships from the equation, the very most whales that can be taken by the remaining harpoon vessel would be three per day, approximately 90 whales for the month. However, we know that this one harpoon vessel was constantly on the move, or preoccupied by fleeing from or relieving one of the tailing harpoons for 50 to 75 percent of the time. Therefore, we estimate the maximum efficiency to be 50 percent, 25 percent at minimum. If all conditions were ideal for hunting for this one harpoon vessel, it would still only be able to take 45 whales at most, or more realistically 30 whales, which is still well below their target. However, we believe that this one harpoon vessel only had about five days to conduct its hunting exercises, which would mean only 15 whales killed at maximum. But we will not know the final kill figures until they are released at the end of the hunting season. Campaign Difficulties and Failures  This is not an easy campaign due to the expanded hunting range, ice, weather, and tails assigned to follow our ships. We have experienced numerous difficulties including the forced retreat of the Gojira for emergency repairs, as well as unforeseen ice conditions. Our major failure was being able to prevent the refueling of the Nisshin Maru. The Gojira located the Panamanian tanker the Sun Laurel on January 12th, 2011. On January 13th, the Bob Barker and theSteve Irwin met up with the Sun Laurel to allow the Gojira to break off to continue the search for the Nisshin Maru. The object was to cut off the refueling ship from the Nisshin Maru. The Sun Laurel fled eastward. On January 18th, the Steve Irwin broke away from the Sun Laurel and was able to lose its tailing harpoon vessel. The Steve Irwin then went in search of the Nisshin Maru because the Gojira was forced to return to Hobart, Tasmania for repairs to its computer and fuel pumps in its new engines. With the Steve Irwin’s limited remaining fuel reserves and knowing that the Sun Laurel was heading too far east to a point of 143 degrees east, Captain Watson requested that Captain Cornelissen drop pursuing the Sun Laurel because once the Nisshin Maru was found, the Bob Barker would not be able to return in time to take up the tail of the factory ship before theSteve Irwin would have to turn back to port to refuel. The Bob Barker dropped chasing the Sun Laurel but not before planting a tracking device on it. The distance back to the Steve Irwin from the Sun Laurel was 1200 nautical miles. Reports from New Zealand suggested that the whalers were looking into chartering a tanker out of New Zealand while the Sun Laurel led the Bob Barker further and further to the east. On January 26th, the Steve Irwin found the Nisshin Maru and gave chase. Unfortunately, the Nisshin Maru smashed its way through dangerously thick ice in desperation to escape Sea Shepherd. The Steve Irwin could not physically pursue after the Nisshin Maru due to these dangerous ice conditions. The tracker on the Sun Laurel indicated that the tanker was heading back southwest, which meant that the Nisshin Maru would be heading towards it to refuel. Everything looked good for the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker to intercept the Sun Laurelbefore the Nisshin Maru could reach it, except for one unpredictable factor…ice! Ice! The two Sea Shepherd ships, each with a harpoon vessel tail, the Steve Irwin picked up a tail again when it found the Nisshin Maru, had time to cover the distance before the Nisshin Maru met up with the Sun Laurel. The problem was ice. Despite the ice charts confirming the path was clear, both the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin lost a great deal of time working through broad bands of heavy floe ice. By the time the two ships broke through, still with their harpooner tails, the Nisshin Maru had already refueled. It was our one major failure during this year’s campaign. On January 30th, the Bob Barker resumed the search for the Nisshin Maru, and engaged in a confrontation with the Yushin Maru No. 3 the next day in an attempt to slow down and lose the tailing vessel. The Steve Irwin headed back towards New Zealand with the Yushin Maru No. 2 on its tail. The Situation for February The Gojira has returned to the Southern Ocean and will resume scouting for the Nisshin Maru. The Bob Barker will continue to pursue the Nisshin Maru, while keeping the Yushin Maru No. 3 occupied. The Yushin Maru No. 2 will take a few days to return to the Nisshin Maru, and hopefully the Gojira will have located the factory ship by then. The Steve Irwin will refuel in Wellington, New Zealand, and should be back in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by mid February with fresh provisions for the Bob Barker and the Gojira crews. The Steve Irwin will have enough fuel to last through the end of the whaling season at the end of March. The Bob Barker with her much larger fuel capacity, will also be able to remain on site until the end of March. The Gojira can refuel from the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin and can also remain present until the end of March. January has proven to be an excellent month for Sea Shepherd during this campaign. Our objective is to continue interventions to make February just as successful. One harpooner will be out of the hunt for sure as it continues to tail the Bob Barker. The second harpoon vessel will take three to four days to return to the Nisshin Maru. The Gojira should find the Nisshin Maru soon, and will be in a position to guide the Bob Barker to the factory ship. The Steve Irwin will lose its tail before reaching New Zealand, and will be able to return to the whale sanctuary without a tail. The Japanese whaling fleet is getting to be an irritation for the Japanese Fisheries Agency. The whalers are demanding more subsidies to compensate for their inability to fill their quotas. The Japanese economy is seemingly unhealthy, and the whaling industry has been scandalized with charges of corruption including bribery and embezzlement. This could be the last season that Sea Shepherd will have to send its fleet down to the Southern Ocean. We hope this is the case, but if the Japanese whalers return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in December 2011, they will find us waiting for them once again. We will drive these whale poachers out of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by sinking them economically. The tide has turned against them, and if we return at the end of the year, it will be stronger than this year just as every year since we began our voyages here in 2002. We have increased our resources, fine-tuned our skills, and learned from our experiences. Once we succeed in driving the Japanese whale poachers from the Southern Ocean, our objective of making the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary a genuine whale sanctuary will be realized. Operation No Compromise