The OCEAN WARRIOR left Amsterdam on the weekend of 2 October, 2016 to sail to Melbourne, Australia for the start of "Operation Nemesis" Sea Shepherd's 11th campaign in the Southern Ocean.

The vessel passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, with Europe on the port side and Africa to starboard, then sailed via the Suez Canal and into the Indian Ocean where it went silent.

Melbourne Arrival Date: 15 November, 2016

"The one thing that we were missing in our fleet was a vessel with speed and endurance," said Alex Cornelissen, chief executive of Sea Shepherd Global and the ships Captain.

"With the Ocean Warrior, we have a ship that can outmatch any poaching vessel on the high seas," he said.

This imposing ship is 54 meters in length (longer than two tennis courts) and 10 meters wide. Costing around 8 million Euros to build and financed with a gift from the Dutch Postcode Lottery it houses the latest technology for speed and Antarctic conditions.

With its four engines, an economical hybrid propulsion system, lightweight aluminum structure and tapered bow that gives it a warship appearance, it can reach a speed of nearly 30 knots (55 km/h) which is faster than any Japanese whaling vessel.

On deck we find a platform for a helicopter and a water cannon. The Bridge consists of a windshield with a 360° view to enable the crew to stay safe and play cat and mouse with the whalers. But when it's time to take action, the Ocean Warrior, it is believed, will give Operation Nenesis the advantage needed to stop the whale slaughter in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.