Exclusive: The Earthrace Begins A Sea Shepherd Transformation
If Batman joined Sea Shepherd, this is the boat he would bring...
Filed under: green and famous — Michael d'Estries @ 2:13 pm
August 28th 2009
Ever since it was announced earlier this summer that Earthrace would be joining Sea Shepherd for this year’s campaign against Japanese whaling ships, we’ve been eager for more updates. The 78 foot biodiesel-powered wave-piercing trimaran is a sleek, world-record holder (fastest for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat) that would even draw gadget-envy from James Bond’s Q.
Back in June, Captain Paul Watson of SS said that he intended to use Earthrace to “intercept and block harpoons”. While that sounds like a feat achievable only in a Michael Bay movie, Earthrace captain Pete Bethune is taking his orders seriously. We recently spoke with the creator of this incredible vessel and how he’s getting the boat ready for the harsh Antarctic seas (and potential Japanese encounters).
ER: On how the Earthrace is being transformed for its new mission:
PB: “We’re adding between 8 layers and 4 layers of kevlar, depending on area, all over the underwaterline sections, as well as some areas above the waterline. Earthrace is pretty much all carbon, which is brittle, especially as it gets colder. The kevlar adds impact resistance. It does not make it iceproof, it just limits the damage when we do end up scraping some ice. Earthrace though is quite vulnerable down there, so we will need to be especially carfeul. Antarctica is very unforgiving.”
ER: On the use of Earthrace to block harpoons:
PB: “Paul must have been pretty excited when he said I’ll be blocking harpoons with Earthrace. if they ever hit us with an explosive harpoon it’ll be massive damage. but certainly we’ll do our best to get in their way. If they hit us it will always be their guy that pulled the trigger — but hopefully things won’t come to that.”
ER: What types of new technology can we expect Earthrace to sport while going head-to-head with the Japanese ships?
PB: “A new broadband radar that cannot be detected. FLIR nightvision system. Iridium openport comms so we cn upload videos and pics all the time. And new type of paint that scatters radar signals making us hard to detect.”
ER: On what’s next for the ship while in dry dock:
PB: “By the end of this week we hope to have all the kevlar added and be well underway on the fairing compound. And from next week we’ll be starting to paint (all-black) I expect.”
Look for Sea Shepherd’s Operation Waltzing Matilda to launch later this year.
I am very interested to see exactly how the Earthrace is used in the Antarctic.
But two points about PB’s comments.
A radar that can’t be detected first isn’t possible and second if it was it would be useless because you couldn’t detect the return signal yourself so you would get no info. I assume he means that he believes the whalers wont be able to detect the radar and this depends on what equipment they have. But any radar signal that is emitted can be detected with the right equipment.
As to the ‘new’ radar absorbing paint. Good idea, that has been in use for decades. And unless they expect the whalers to have military radar equipment then they are going to a lot of expense for no gain. Their ships isn’t metal and rides low to the water. In an area with lots of floating ice the Earthrace would be hard to detect without the paint.
In a way I wish that nothing had been said about the Earthrace…what a surprize it would of been to the japanese when it showed up on the scene…now they will have time to think of ways to out do the Sea Shepard… I am excited though and am hoping that it will make a difference…
As an interceptor vessel the Earthrace crew have been thinking long and hard about possible tactics to really bankrupt the whaling fleet and cripple it’s profitability.Some may seem extreme and dangerous when portrayed on WW’s but the crew are completely committed to stopping whaling and the japanese have something a lot more serious chasing them now. ER crew are battle hardened warriors having fought off pirates and beaten the world circumnavigation record. (They are also slightly crazy and a lot of fun so the series will be awesome viewing) Even if these guerilla tactics dont come off just the sight of the Earthrace boat will make the whale wars series an unmissable environmental crusade and an inspiration to individual action and an elevation of what we have to do to save the planet.
Fight the good fight. Kia Kaha, Kia Toa.
I agree with Jay’me Golden. The Earthrace should have been kept a secret, and no information pertaining to her structure should be discussed. This just gives the Japanese time to create ways to deal with Earthrace. The element of suprise would have been great, and could have set the Japanese back just enough to save a few more whales!
Good Luck! I hope your fleet grows to the hundreds with plenty of caring, knowledgable crews to man them. Save the whales (and other sea animals)!
OOOoppss!
Earthrace sunk by jap whaler!!!
This reminds me of the tune that gets played by bob barker in the price is right when you loose a game. duhduh…duh!
No matter how delusional you people get by thinking that “the japs will have to contend with a serious piece of hardware now.! There will always be reality waiting to run you over.
love,
Libsmasher