- MV Brigitte Bardot
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MV Gojira docked in Hobart harbour, 2010.Career Name: Cable and Wireless Adventurer (1998-2007),
Ocean 7 Adventurer (2007-2008),
Rat Race Media Adventurer (2008-2010),
MV Gojira (2010-2011),
Brigitte Bardot (2011-)Owner: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (2010-) Port of registry: Fremantle, Australia Builder: Vosper Thornycroft (now VT Group plc) Launched: 16 March 1998 General characteristics Class and type: DNV Yacht R0 Type: Trimaran Displacement: 41 ton Length: 114.5 ft (34.9 m) Beam: 46.2 ft (14.1 m) Draught: 4.4 ft (1.3 m) Draft: 3.6 ft (1.1 m) Propulsion: 2 x 261 kW Cummins Speed: 24 knots (44.4 km/h)
(Cruising speed: 22 knots (40.7 km/h) )Range: 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) Capacity: 16,000 litres Crew: 12 to 16 MV Brigitte Bardot (formerly Gojira and Ocean 7 Adventurer) is a unique high-tech 35 m (115 ft) stabilized monohull twin diesel engine powered vessel designed by Nigel Irens. Construction of the Adventurer began in June 1997 and she was launched on 16 March 1998. The official naming ceremony took place on 3 April 1998 in London's West India Dock.
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Cable and Wireless Adventurer
Originally named the Cable and Wireless Adventurer she was built for the purpose of circumnavigating the world in less than 80 days. This was successfully accomplished in July 1998 in 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, traveling more than 22,600 nautical miles (41,855 km). This achievement set a new Guiness World Record for a powered vessel. However, on 27 June 2008 Earthrace (later renamed Ady Gil), the biodiesel powered wave-piecing trimaran, set a new world record when it docked at the Vulkan shipyard in Sagunto, Spain after completing a circumnavigation in just 60 days 23 hours and 49 minutes.
The design of the vessel was evaluated and proven by hydrodynamic tank testing and a 21.3m scale prototype named the iLAN Voyager completed sea trials to demonstrate the advantages of the concept.
The Adventurer is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communications equipment.
Ocean 7 Adventurer
Ocean 7 Adventurer
In 2007 the vessel was acquired by Ocean 7, a Cape Town based marine brokerage and charter operation. The vessel was recommissioned and transferred to a mooring at the V&A Waterfront. The vessel was available for charter, film work and the occasional marine rescue operation.
In December 2007 the Ocean 7 Adventurer was chartered to retrieve a demasted yacht, the IMOCA 60 Delta Dore from the Southern Ocean. The Delta Dore was partaking in the Barcelona World Race. The yacht skippered by Jérémie Beyou and Sidney Gavignet was at position 47°00 S 033° 25 E, nearly a thousand miles south east from South Africa, drifting slowly at between 1 and 2 knots east. An hour after the mast had collapsed backwards, it had to be cut free and dumped into the ocean, as it was likely to damage the hull. The yacht had 188 litres of diesel on board, but this was insufficient to motor back to the mainland. The Ocean 7 team were approached with regard to salvaging the yacht. Skippered by co-owner David de Villiers, the Ocean 7 Adventurer set sail for the Southern Ocean and after locating the yacht, it was taken in tow with a 200 m line. This rescue set a record for the longest tow in South African maritime history (850 nmi (1,574 km)).
During early June 2008 the Adventurer moved to the east coast of South Africa to observe the annual sardine run, after which it relocated to the southern end of Madagascar in July in search of waves amongst the reefs where the vessel was used as a live-aboard base for surfers and kite surfers. During September the Adventurer explored the Baron Islands off the Madagascar coast before returning to its base at the V&A Waterfront for the summer season, where it was available for day charters, specialised trips and functions.
Rat Race Media Adventurer
Rat Race Media AdventurerIn 2008 it was repainted in Rat Race Media graphics and was the star of a TV series on kykNET, Aqua X. The series started in October 2008 and aired until January 2009.
Miles for Smiles Adventurer
In November 2009 the Ocean 7 Adventurer was chartered by the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation to be the support vessel during leg one of the Miles for Smiles Madagascar Challenge.[1] Before setting out to sea the Ocean 7 Adventurer received a new look with the iconic Miles for Smiles regalia. This challenge was the brainchild of David Grier to raise awareness and funding for Operation Smile children suffering from facial deformity. Leg one of this challenge was to paddle some 550 km (342 mi) from Nacala Mozambique to Cap St Andre in Madagascar where leg two of the challenge took place - the traversing of Madagascar from South to North on foot. The Ocean 7 Adventurer played a crucial role in supporting David Grier and cameraman Nick Heygate during the paddle crossing.[1]
Gojira
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society acquired the $4 million vessel for its 2010-11 campaign against Japanese whaling in the Antarctic Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary [2][3] and renamed it MV Gojira (Romanized Japanese for Godzilla). Captained by Lockhart "Locky" MacLean,[4] it is the first Australian-flagged vessel to be operated by the Sea Shepherd Society, and though slower, it is twice as large as the Ady Gil,[5] making it more stable than the boat it replaces.
Brigitte Bardot
In May 2011 the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was served with a notice from the copyright holders of the Gojira/Godzilla franchise,[6] regarding the unauthorized use of the trademark. The Society promptly changed the vessel's name to the Brigitte Bardot in honor of the French fashion model, actress, and singer whom Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd, took on an anti-sealing trip in 1977.[7]
References
- ^ a b "The Madagascar Challenge". Milesforsmiles.co.za. http://www.milesforsmiles.co.za/achievements/the-madagascar-challenge.html. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ Darby, Andrew (18 November 2010). "Ady Gil and whalers both at fault for collision: inquiry". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/ady-gil--and-whalers-both-at-fault-for-collision-inquiry-20101118-17y8u.html. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- ^ "Anti-Whaling Activists Unveil New High-Speed Interceptor". RedOrbit. 1 December 2010. http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1958905/antiwhaling_activists_unveil_new_highspeed_interceptor/.
- ^ Megan McNaught (5 December 2010). "Whale stealth ship arrives". The Mercury. http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/12/05/191041_tasmania-news.html.
- ^ Andrew Darby (2 December 2010). "'Godzilla' ready to battle Japan's tardy whalers". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/godzilla-ready-to-battle-japans-tardy-whalers-20101201-18gnm.html.
- ^ OceansFury.org - Sea Shepherd renames the fast interceptor Gojira to Brigitte Bardot] - 03 June 2011
- ^ "The Beast Transforms into a Beauty as Godzilla Becomes the Brigitte Bardot". Sea Shepherd News. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. 25 May 2011. http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110525-1.html. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
External links
- Ocean Adventurer website
- Ocean 7 - The team
- Cable & Wireless Adventurer website
- Miles for Smiles Madagascar Challenge
- Rat Race Media Adventurer website
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Operations Neptune's Navy Current vesselsMY Bob Barker • MY Steve Irwin • MV Brigitte BardotFormer vesselsMY Ady Gil • RV Farley Mowat • Sea Shepherd IPeople Media Whale Wars (List of Whale Wars episodes) • At the Edge of the WorldCategories:- Individual yachts
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
- Trimarans
- 1998 ships
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