The Steve Irwin and the Brigitte Bardot continue to make progress towards Fremantle with the Shonan Maru #2 tailing both vessels. The Shonan Maru #2 is now 65 miles inside the Australian continental Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).

Because the Nisshin Maru and the harpoon vessels have been moving continuously since first located by Sea Shepherd, they do not appear to have had any time to kill whales. They know that if they slow down or stop the Bob Barker will close the gap and will be on them.

The Steve Irwin will quickly refuel in Fremantle and will return to the Southern Ocean to assist the Bob Barker in intervening against the illegal activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary inside Australian Antarctic Territorial waters.

The Yushin Maru #3 sprays the Sea Shepherd small boat crew with their water cannons as they travel through French Antarctic waters. Photo: Carolina A. Castro

A Sea Shepherd small boat crew follows the Yushin Maru #3 at close range in French Antarctic waters. Photo: Carolina A. Castro

Sea Shepherd small boat crew approaches the Shonan Maru #2  Photo: Sea Shepherd

The damaged Brigitte Bardot shadowed by the Shonan Maru #2  Photo: Sea Shepherd

The Yushin Maru #3 as seen from the Sea Shepherd small boat crew.
Photo: Carolina A. Castro

Visit our Operation Divine Wind site for information about our 2011-12 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign