Hobart gets a glimpse of life on board anti-whaling ship Ocean Warrior

MORE than 1000 curious visitors have taken the opportunity to get a glimpse of what life is like on board a state-of-the-art anti-whaling vessel.

A group of visitors gets a guided tour of Sea Shepherd's new Antarctic patrol vessel Ocean Warrior, in Hobart. Pictures: KIM EISZELE

MORE than 1000 curious visitors have taken the opportunity to get a glimpse of what life is like on board a state-of-the-art anti-whaling vessel.

Marine conservation group Sea Shepherd’s newest vessel, the Ocean Warrior, docked in Hobart on Friday night and was open to the public today.

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The vessel is in Hobart undergoing final preparations ahead of Sea Shepherd’s latest anti-whaling campaign against the Japanese in the Southern Ocean, dubbed Operation Nemesis.

Veronica Gall, of Kingston Beach, and son Hugo, 2, take in the view from the comfort of Ocean Warrior’s modern bridge.

After a two-year hiatus – prompted by an International Court of Justice ruling which caused Japan to halt its “scientific” whaling program for a season – Sea Shepherd has returned to the battle with a ship it claims can outrun and outgun Japanese whaling vessels.

Sea Shepherd spokesman Adam Burling said visitors were guided around the ship on 15-minute tours, with a number of topics popular.

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One favourite was a 20,000-litre-per-minute water cannon used to create shields of water between whales and harpoons.

“People asked what the conditions were like and the kids asked about the whales and wildlife,” Mr Burling said.

“The bridge of the vessel and the technology were [popular] too.”

Ocean Warrior crew member Penny Keeling ties down the vessels state-of-the-art Zodiac.

Mr Burling added that support from Hobart people had been overwhelming, with donations of food and supplies flooding in.

“People appreciate the dedication our crew have being away for two to four months ... from family and friends,” he said.

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Ocean Warrior can carry a helicopter and a zodiac tender. It was built with donations from lotteries in the Netherlands, UK and Sweden.

The vessel leaves tomorrow morning and will rendezvous with fellow Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin off Macquarie Island before beginning the anti-whaling campaign.

Originally published as Hobart gets a glimpse of life on board anti-whaling ship Ocean Warrior