Ady Gil 2 May Cost $5 Million To Build
Filed under: Featured, animals, campaigns — Michael d'Estries @ 6:04 pm
January 11th 2010
With the Ady Gil now resting somewhere beneath the waves of the Antarctic, the Sea Shepherd and her supporters have turned to talk of a successor — and the cash needed to make her a reality.
Already, an anonymous donor has reportedly offered $1 million towards the project — while Hollywood businessman Ady Gil, the ship’s original benefactor, threw a fundraiser last weekend at his spacious Woodland Hills home. According to Paul Watson, $170,000 was pledged in the first few hours after the incident while more was flooding in following the screening of a Sea Shepherd advert featuring Transformers actress Isabel Lucas.
But while reports keep indicating that the loss of the Ady Gil to the Sea Shepherd was somewhere around $1.5 million — the cost to replace the ship will be much greater.
We know this because of an interview the Ady Gil’s creator, Captain Pete Bethune, did with Conquest Magazine back when the boat was known as the Earthrace. The march to make his dream a reality was such daunting task, that it actually almost sent Bethune into bankruptcy.
In terms of cost, the Ady Gil 2 will already seem daunting because of one lucky break Bethune got the first time around: the two 540 horsepower Cummins Mercruiser Diesel engines were actually free. The Cummins CEO said he couldn’t sponsor the $4 million needed at the time, but instead would provide the engines, install them, and service them around-the-globe for three years. That generous offer immediately saved between $300,000-$400,000. Additionally, a couple gearboxes were also thrown in for free — again, expensive stuff.
From that, Bethune raised $1.5 million in sponsorship for goods and services, threw in $750,000 of his own cash — and took out a loan for another three quarters of a million.
As if the costs weren’t heavy enough, the project then shot $500,000 over budget — mainly due to the complexity of the carbon spars and the more than 66 layers of carbon fibre. And this is all before Sea Shepherd got their hands on the vessel and added an additional 4-8 layers of kevlar and other upgrades.
Said Ady Gil at his fundraiser this past weekend, “We intended to build a bigger, better, faster ship for our cause.”
Words like that make accountants shiver — and based on the above, it’s no secret that a second Ady Gil will probably cost more than the first. Granted, Bethune now has experience and a giant organization behind him to help — but will the money flow? Can a second boat, when the first took more than 3,000 hours of labor to construct, be ready by next year’s campaign?
We look forward to finding out.
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Tagged: isabel lucas, pete bethune
“But whaling is an industry that is government funded. It wont end the way a business will. It has an unlimited supply of money to go into it. All it can do is become less-profitable…”
Oh you mean like windmills, solar, ethanol, biodiesel, etc.
“Those very few people that have tried/eat whale meat have the alternative of chicken, beef, pork, or going vegan. There really is no need for whaling.”
Replace ‘whale meat’ with any other food (animal or vegetable) and the results are the same. For instance there is no need for oranges, the people that eat oranges could eat peaches, apples or limes. There is no real need for growing oranges. Now is that a reason to stop the growing of oranges? I don’t think so.
Why does any one feel they have the right to tell other people in other countries what is and isn’t appropriate to eat? Many countries in Europe eat horses. Is there a movement in the US to get them to stop? I haven’t heard of one, there is a push to stop horses from the US being sold for meat, although it is still possible and legal for horse meat to be in pet food sold in the US.
And because you brought up going vegan, some of the searches I did came up with this fact. More people in Japan eat whale (5% of 127,000,000 = 6.35 million) than are vegan in the United States (1.4% of 304,000,000 = 4.2 million).
America has been pressured from other countries to do thing, like invade a country, and we do, sometimes. Other say we should leave the country, but we dont. America is stubbourn, as is every otehr country.
You cant replace whale meat with other fruits/vegetables/meats. You cant replace it with cow meat, or poultry, or pork. In a previous year there was 4000 tons of whale meat that wasnt purchased or used in any way. It just sat in a warehouse, rotting. Was there an orange surplus? We have uses for oranges that we dont eat.
I have no idea what you meant by refering to the windmills, solar, ethanol, biodiesel, etc… Please rephrase. What I meant by the statement you were refering to was that its uselss to compare business’ with Japanese whaling. The whalers are government funded. Need more money? Take it. The government says you can have it. Similar to NASA. NASA will meet bankrupcy, and stop launching rockets. Its funded by the US government. They spend taxes to launch the shuttle, and research Mars and such.
You were the one who said that people that eat whale meat could replace it with some other type of food. And I pointed out that you could replace any single food with some other food.
“In a previous year there was 4000 tons of whale meat that wasnt purchased or used in any way. It just sat in a warehouse, rotting.”
Sorry but you are wrong. No whale meat sat in a warehouse and rotting. If this were true why would Japan be importing whale meat from Iceland? Since whaling only occurs during certain times of the year, some is stored frozen and it is then slowly released throughout the year so whale is available year round. The level in storage goes up and down every year.
There is a similar situation in the US with potatoes (and many other foods), they aren’t harvested year round. So much of the harvest is stored to provide potatoes though the year.
I was using windmills, solar, ethanol and biodiesel as examples of industries that couldn’t survive without government subsidies. The biofuel industry in the US gets $4 billion a year and the US has a GDP of $14.2 trillion so that is 0.028%. The Japanese whalers have never gotten more than $5 million and Japan has a GDP of $4.91 trillion so that is 0.0001%. The whalers aren’t like NASA, only about 10% of their budget comes from the government and the subsidies are actual loans.
I was refering to how you said replace “whale meat” in the sentence with anythign else. Whale meat can (and will eventually) be replaced with other food. Yes as I said every food can be replaced with another.
It is possible that I am wrong. The internet isnt exactly the most reliable place. Maybe my source misinterprited it as storage for yearound consumption.
The eco-market (windmills, solar, etc…) has been almost created by the California government. The government really wants to help reduce our dependancy on fossil fuels, so they hand out cash to renewable energy companies.
I know it isnt a government program, but its funded by the government. I have no exact percentage of how much comes out of the Japanese taxpayers pocket, so you may be right. NASA might not have been the best example.
Either way the whalers are wasting money, and are in big trouble for ramming the Ady Gil. I still support Sea Shepherd. They are risking everything to stop this dying industry. They have been very successful in their efforts to stop whaling from being too profitable. That is the passion the world needs for change.
From MN, with hope,
Isn’t it frustrating as hell to debate with ddpalmer? He has a way of taking everything you say out of context, resulting in your having to reiterate over and over…but still he responds with apple to oranges arguments. It as if his only objective is to just annoy you. Look up “straw man argument”
Obviously the Japanese government doesn’t think they are wasting money.
Nobody is in trouble about the collision yet. When somebody with authority completes their investigation we will see who is in trouble. But since neither side seems to be real cooperative, I expect the investigation will never reach a final decision. Plus their also seems to be a real issue about who has jurisdiction which will further muddy the waters.
Does it make sense to risk everything to stop an industry that you believe is already dying? Especially when there are other really endangered species you could be trying to help?
Despite what the SSCS says, they haven’t made a significant dent in the whaling industry. And I don’t believe that the world needs vigilanties who take the law into their own hands.
“Yet” is the keyword there. The investigation is still in progress, but it will soon be over, and New Zealand hopes to come up with a diplomatic solution. Jurisdiction isnt exactly the issue. Its that a Japanese ship hit a New Zealand ship. New Zealand is taking it up as their problem because it was their citizens (at least 4 of the 6 were) and it was a New Zealand registered ship.
The reason its dying is reduced demand, and Sea Shepherd/Greenpeace intervention throught he years. If Sea Shepherd werent currently there, and if they werent previously stopping whaling, than the number of whales who wouldve been killed wouldve been either constant, or increasing, not decreasing as it currently is. The IWC charter or whatever its called says that an independant group can indeed do what Sea shepherd is doing.
And Sea Shepherd is going to go help protect the bluefin tuna once they’re done in Antarctica.
From MN, with hope…,
You stated that there was a “reduced demand” for whale meat. I can personally say that there is a steady and substantial demand for whale meat in Japan.
Where in the UN charter you refered to does it say that SS has a right to illegally board ships on the high seas, throw acid at other ships, attempt to foul others ships props at sea and shine potentially harmful lasers at the crews of other ships? SS has not been given legal authority by anyone to interfere with ships operating legally in international waters.
You are joking right? I really mean it your post was a joke, right?
By their actions the SSCS has caused a nationalistic reaction in Japan and increased the demand and the resistance to any change in the Japanese stance on whaling.
2006 508 Minke whales taken
2007 551 Minke whales taken
2008 680 Minke whales taken
2009 Not yet complete
Looks like the numbers have increased while the SSCS has been there.
No the IWC doesn’t given anybody the right to do what the SSCS is doing. The SSCS claim that the United Nations World Charter for Nature gives them the authority. Though the UN doesn’t seem to agree and has condemned the actions of the SSCS.
And yes the SSCS say they are going to the Med to save the Tuna. The only problem is that the Atlantic Blue Fin is in better shape than the Southern Blue Fin. So why don’t they stay around Australia and protect the more endangered species of tuna?
Wow, a bit if attitude in that post. Regardless of ANYTHING you say, I support the SSCS, and am opposed to whaling.
And, call me paranoid, but due to what I have seen (ddpalmer comments all over the web), and lack of seen (no more hideyoshi)I am going to ask if you work for Glenn Inwood, or ARE Glenn Inwood. Are you, or do you work for Glenn Inwood?
Nobody is going to convince me whaling is a good thing. It is a useless industry that needs to stop now.
And I dont know about the tuna, I dont know Sea Shepherd’s motives to go to the mediterranean.
Jesus Christ how many times do I have to answer that same stupid question? And you said you went and read all my posts but you still ask. No I don’t work for the ICR or Glenn Inwood. I work for a Great Lakes shipping firm transporting mostly iron ore.
Now here is one for you. Why do so many anti-whalers insist that anyone that doesn’t support the SSCS must be being paid by someone to post what they do? Is it because you believe that your opinions are always right so that the only way someone wouldn’t agree with you is because they are paid? Do you see me accusing you of being paid by the SSCS? No, because I believe that you have strong opinions about the situation and that is what motivates you.
“Regardless of ANYTHING you say, I support the SSCS, and am opposed to whaling.”
Good for you. I am glad you have something you believe that strongly in. But you should check your facts before you post them. I don’t believe everything I read on the ICR, SSCS or even US Government site. And with the internet I can easily do some fact checking.
Well if you don’t know about the tuna maybe you should look it up before you post about it. I also know what the SSCS says their motive for going to the Med is. But I also question it, because the Southern Blue Fin is in a more critical situation than the Atlantic Blue Fin. So why go over 10,000 miles when they could do more good right where they are? Might it be because the Australians are responsible for 42% of the Southern Blue Fin quota, almost twice the Japanese quota?
I have tried to have a fact based discussion with you as you wanted. But now you admit that no matter the facts you will support the SSCS. So I guess what you meant was you wanted me to believe everything you post even when I know it is a wrong. Just like the Australians and SSCS claiming that the Japanese won’t compromise on whaling when their idea of compromise is for the Japanese to completely stop whaling. I don’t know about in Australia but in the United States that is not compromise that is demand.
How you interpret it is up to you. I was merely stating that it is useless to try and get me over to your side. You are certainly a respctful person. I mean no personal insult. The reason I asked was because of how I stated. It was a question. The internet isnt the most reliable place. Since whaling is such a bias topic, and since the whalers have said some obvious lies, its not easy to get a variety of truth from the Japanese whaling topic. Oh, and… Another midewestern American here. Hope you are loving the cold as much as I am. I dont demand you accept what I say. Like I said, its just the way you interpret it.
You’ll never make headway (no pun intended) with brainwashed people.
It’s nice that one of their own is facing three years prison time for their illegal activities; there will be more incarcerations.
I don’t understand why nobody has gone strait to the horses mouth. I’ve been in contact with Dr Nicky Grandy, Secretary to the Commission, International Whaling Commission, and he’s been wonderful about answering my questions and concerns. Below, I have copy/pasted my question along with Dr. Grany’s answer.
ME: I would like to know your opinion of the Japanese whaling fleet. Are they killing whale legitimately? Or are they in fact breaking the law?
Dr Nicky Grandy: Regarding Japan’s current whaling activities, Article VIII of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, under which the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established, allows Contracting (member) Governments to issue ‘special permits’ to take whales for research purposes (i.e. Article VIII – see http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm#convention . While Contracting Governments that issue permits must submit proposals (and the results from any research) for review, in accordance with the Convention, it is the Contracting Government that ultimately decides whether or not to issue a permit. The Commission as a body cannot prevent this type of research. The provisions in Article VIII override any other Commission regulations including the commercial whaling moratorium and sanctuaries. Article VIII also requires that the animals be utilised once the scientific data have been collected.
Research under Article VIII is very controversial among IWC members (and the public). While some Contracting Governments support this right – and Japan’s research programmes, other Contracting Governments believe the killing of whales for research purposes to be unnecessary given other research techniques now available. The Commission has adopted many Resolutions in the past by majority voting urging Japan and others to inter alia refrain from issuing ‘special permits’ but such instruments are not legally binding. The Resolutions are available on our website should you be interested in consulting them (go to: http://www.iwcoffice.org/meetings/resolutions/resolutionmain.htm).
So, Dr Nicky Grandy, Secretary to the Commission, International Whaling Commission agrees with the fact that Japans whaling activities are perectly legal.
Has anyone told Paul Watson and the SSCS? Now they can start saving the tuna from the Australians. Oops, I mean they can travel over 10,000 miles wasting time and fuel and adding all that CO2 to the atmosphere to start saving the Tuna from the Europeans.
“cockroaches of the sea” is the commments from a Japanese Foreign minister regarding Minke whales. Look at the sort of psyche these poachers have!
More diatribe from ddpalmer.
The whole ‘special permits’ is bogus, and the IWC members know this. Most of them are against the whaling. They know it is unnecessary and not science at all. A huge farce and for what? Sashimi for <1% of population? Selfish national pride hard at work coming at a huge cost to Japans image.
Replace cows and chickens with another food? Ddpalmer you are in fact ignorant, those animals are raised to be eaten, I dont see a whale farm anywhere raising whales for the japanese people to chow down on. Instead lets further reduce an already depleted species of animal for a select few so they can have a nice apetizer. Good thing I’m not rich, I’d buy an old Russian Destroyer, arm it, gather a crew, sink every freakin whaling vessel I came across, then fund a salvage expedition to pump all the fuel out of the trashed hulks and we all can have a nice day, and watch ddpalmers jaw drag on the floor