Anti whaling vessel Gojira to chase Japanese whalers
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The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an international anti whaling organization, on Monday launched its new interceptor vessel Gojira from Fremantle port in Western Australia to chase the Japanese whalers.
The vessel will join the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker in Hobart before leaving on December 2 to defend the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.
The Gojira is Sea Shepherd's first Australian registered vessel, with Fremantle as designated as home port, and will have Australian citizens on board.
The non-for-profit organisation's director Jeff Hansen said the Gojira will be a game-changer in this year's fight against illegal Japanese whaling as it can out-run harpoon vessels.
"The factory ship is the one we're after and if we can find it, we can shut down whaling," Hansen said.
"We save 10 to 12 whales a day by blocking the slipway on the factory ship so really this vessel is going to play a huge part in shutting down the Japanese whaling fleet for the entire summer."
The Gojira's captain Locky MacLean said having the fast new vessel, it was anticipated Sea Shepherd would be able to stop all whales from being slaughtered this year.
Hansen said the Australian federal government's willingness to crack down on illegal whaling would be tested if Sea Shepherd's Gojira is rammed or attacked by Japanese whalers.
"We hope the Australian government, if there are any issues down there, that they will step up and defend a vessel that's named and birthed as a home port in Australia and has Australian citizens on board," he said.
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