Anti-whaling ship named Steve Irwin

Published: 5:13PM Wednesday December 05, 2007 Source: AAP

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An anti-whaling ship has been named after the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin as it sets off to intercept Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.
  
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been given permission to use Irwin's name by his widow Terri Irwin, who was in Melbourne today as the ship's 52-member crew prepared to set sail on a two-month protest operation.
  
Previously named Robert Hunter, Sea Shepherd's former Scottish fisheries patrol vessel will carry the moniker of Steve Irwin as it attempts to intercept a Japanese whaling fleet that left port for the Southern Ocean a fortnight ago.
  
Irwin said the conservation of whales was always one of Steve's passions.
  
"Whales have always been in Steve's heart and in 2006 he was investigating the possibility of joining the Sea Shepherd on part of its journey to defend these beautiful animals," she said today.
  
The Steve Irwin will sail from the Melbourne Docklands, embarking on a $500,000 (NZ$656,822) campaign dubbed Operation Migaloo - named in honour of an endangered albino humpback.
  
Sea Shepherd president Paul Wilson said the Japanese whalers were targeting endangered humpback and fin whales along with 935 Minke whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.
  
The Irwin family's support was a massive boost to the operation, Captain Watson said.
  
"Steve Irwin's life demonstrated how one person can make a significant difference in the world," he said.
  
"Steve wanted to come to Antarctica with us to defend the whales, and now he will be joining us in spirit with his name emblazoned on the fastest and most powerful ship in the world."
  
Watson has previously said Sea Shepherd would ram whaling ships if necessary to try to stop the hunt, and crew onboard the Steve Irwin were prepared to fired upon.

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