The MV Bob Barker

Thanks to a 5 million dollar contribution from American television personality and icon Bob Barker, Sea Shepherd was able to quietly purchase and refit the former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice-strengthened, fast, chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th to join up with the Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean.

"I'm delighted to be able to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in its mission to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the worlds oceans...There is lot of talk about preserving our ecosystems and species, but this is one organization that puts these words into action." - Bob Barker

MV Bob Barker facts and stats:

- Length: 52.2 meters
- Date Built: 1950
- Port of Registry: Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Type: Long-range vessel
- Most Interesting Fact: Was originally built as a Norwegian whaling vessel
- Other Former Jobs: Norwegian Coast Guard vessel (submarine seeker), fuel resupply vessel, Arctic wildlife tour ship
- Former Name: Polaris

Sea Shepherd Campaigns:

2009 - 2010 Operation Waltzing Matilda
Quota 1,035 whales (935 Minkes, 50 Fin, 50 Humpback)
Number saved 528

2010 - 2011 Operation No Compromise
Quota 1,035 whales (935 Minkes, 50 Fin, 50 Humpback)
Number saved 863

2011 - 2012 Operation Divine Wind
Quota 1,035 whales (935 Minkes, 50 Fin, 50 Humpback)
Number saved 768

2012 - 2013 Operation Zero Tolerance
Quota 1,035 whales (935 Minkes, 50 Fin, 50 Humpback)
Number saved 932

2013 - 2014 Operation Relentless
Quota 1,035 whales (935 Minkes, 50 Fin, 50 Humpback)
Number saved 784

2014 - 2015 Operation Icefish
The first campaign of its kind to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean.

2015 Operation Sleppid Grindini
The Bob Barker's first campaign in the Faroe Islands to protect small cetaceans from drive hunts known as the grindadráp.

2016 Operation Albacore
In partnership with the governments of Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe the Bob Barker spent five months patrolling both country's Exclusive Economic Zones to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.