On January 26, 2015, at the annual Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) hosted by the Dutch Postcode Lottery in Amsterdam, Sea Shepherd Global was awarded €8.3 million for a “Dream Project” vessel built to "Stop Illegal Fishing in the Southern Ocean". It was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder Damen in the port of Antalya, Turkey, and christened Ocean Warrior in September 2016. Its maiden voyage was M/Y Operation Nemesis, Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, in 2016/2017. Interesting Fact: The M/Y Ocean Warrior is Sea Shepherd’s first custom-built ship, and the fastest in its fleet, reaching speeds up to 30 knots.

Thanks to a $5 million contribution from the legendary American game show host Bob Barker, in 2009 Sea Shepherd secretly purchased and refitted a former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice-strengthened chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th for its first mission against the Japanese whaling fleet, Operation Waltzing Matilda. Interesting Fact: The Bob Barker originally operated as a whaling ship until 1962, and later confronted Sea Shepherd during its life as a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel.

The Age of Union, previously known as the Sam Simon, was named after our partners at the Age of Union Alliance, following a very significant pledge of support at the very beginning of 2022. The vessel first joined the Sea Shepherd fleet under the name Sam Simon, after the Hollywood producer and animal rights advocate who served on Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors until his passing in 2015. His generous donation made it possible to purchase the former Japanese vessel in 2012, when it joined its first Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign that December, Operation Zero Tolerance. Interesting Fact: The Age of Union, originally named the Seifu Maru, was a Meteorological Observation Ship for the Japanese whaling fleet.