Monday, October 19, 2009

Rising to Their Defense

The US Air Force has a recruiting moto, "aim high" and that is exactly what the Sea Shepherds are doing to protect whales from the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. As the Society mounts its sixth season of defense, it has turned to high technology to give their sea going volunteers an edge. The Ady Gil is a breathtakingly advanced trimaran that can hit speeds of 50 knots. The boat will cruise with the flag ship Steve Irwin during "Operation Waltzing Matilda". The Shepherds hope to use the Ady Gil's speed to physically separate fast harpoon ships from targeted whales. The trimaran has already set a record for circumnavigation of the globe. The Society's goal is to shut down whaling in the Southern Ocean. With the new tech, they are another step closer to achieving that end.