Sea Shepherd Renames Vessel After Actress Brigitte Bardot

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has finally settled on a new name for their high-tech interceptor vessel – using the opportunity to honor legendary model, actress, and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot.

Formerly called “Gojira” (Godzilla in Japanese), the organization was forced to remove the designation after lawyers representing the trademark issues a cease and desist. In a release, Sea Shepherd said they were more than happy to comply with the change, noting that the “Gojira” name had served its purpose in “routing the Japanese fleet” earlier this year.

From the release:

The relationship between Brigitte and Paul goes way back to 1977 when Captain Watson took Bardot to the ice off the coast of Labrador to pose cheek to cheek with a baby seal. With that one iconic photo alone, Bardot brought the cause and need to protect harp seals to the world’s attention, a pivotal point in the fight to stop this annual Canadian obscenity of cruelty and mass slaughter.

“It’s a beautiful ship with a beautiful name and it is a vessel that will reflect the compassion of Brigitte Bardot in partnership with the passionate interventionist direct action tactics of Sea Shepherd,” said Captain Paul Watson.

With its sleek new silver metallic makeover, the Brigitte Bardot will join the Steve Irwin in heading to Libyan waters to engage with poachers illegally harvesting endangered bluefin tuna.

“I’m moved, overwhelmed and infinitely grateful that this wonderful “ savior of the seas” will wear my name to fight against those who allow themselves to butcher what is most precious in the oceans.,” said Bardot in a letter to Watson.

Check out additional pics of Bardot’s new vessel below.