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00:00The Nishin Maru
00:24The Nishin Maru.
00:27There's no other ship like it in the world.
00:31Twenty whales a day can be dragged up its slipway and dissected.
00:38A floating slaughterhouse, it moves like a ghost between icebergs.
00:43It's bankrolled by a nation.
00:46It's the mothership to a fleet armed with harpoons.
00:50And one group has vowed to stop it.
00:53The sea shepherds prepare for their tenth Antarctic campaign.
00:54That's three, Mal.
00:55That's three in the water, eh?
00:56That's three in the water.
00:57That's right.
00:58In less than eight days, they could be face to face with their enemy.
00:59Last year we prevented the whaling fleet from reaching even ten percent of their quota,
01:04which indicates to me that it might be a very, very desperate adversary that we're about to face.
01:10Woo!
01:11One that could be very, very aggressive, more aggressive than the year previous.
01:13One meter from the heli deck.
01:14Brace for impact.
01:15Get ready for impact.
01:17Back and run.
01:18One!
01:19One meter from the heli deck.
01:20Brace for impact.
01:21Get ready for impact.
01:22Boom!
01:23One meter from the heli deck.
01:24Straight up.
01:25And rescue and fuhm.
01:26This is what I'm gonna show you.
01:27This is, is the first impact.
01:29I have to make the mind of the tank.
01:30Nice.
01:31What's the moving target?
01:32To make the target?
01:33So, last year we prevented the whaling fleet from reaching even ten percent of their quota,
01:34which indicates to me that it might be a very, very desperate adversary that we're about to face.
01:39Woo!
01:40One that could be very, very, aggressive, more aggressive than the year previous.
01:44One meter from the heli deck.
01:45Brace for impact.
01:46Last year is definitely the most violent and aggressive campaign that I've ever been on.
01:53We are getting rammed, we are getting rammed.
01:56Steve Irwin, they're destroying us.
01:58How can it get more aggressive than the way that it already was?
02:02Mayday, mayday, mayday.
02:05Mission Maru, we have lost power, stand down.
02:10The only thing that comes to mind is that ships may sink, people may die.
02:15You know, that next level of aggression may be met.
02:18All right, Una, full speed.
02:20Full speed.
02:21But this year, the Sea Shepherds will face an additional obstacle.
02:25For the first time in the campaign's history, it will be without their founder and captain.
02:32Tight-lipped, refusing to talk about a case in which he is due to testify,
02:36Paul Watson leaves the Seattle courthouse.
02:38Japan paid millions to lawyers to try and find a way for the court systems to stop us.
02:43And claims Sea Shepherd has broken a U.S. ruling, which says ships must remain 457 meters from whaling vessels at all times.
02:52And that's why, for the first time ever, I won't be going on the Antarctic campaign.
02:57Not having Captain Paul Watson onboard one of the Sea Shepherd ships is a tremendous blow to this campaign.
03:06But at the same time, I think the Japanese government is under this impression that if they were to take Captain Paul Watson out,
03:13then our campaigns down in Antarctica would cease.
03:18But if that's their belief, then they're completely wrong.
03:22What they don't realize is that Sea Shepherd isn't just me.
03:26It isn't about one man.
03:28Sea Shepherd is everyone.
03:30Everyone who will fight for the planet.
03:33Right now, there's over a hundred Sea Shepherd volunteers in the Antarctic, risking everything.
03:39When the Japanese whaling fleet sees us coming over the horizon.
03:42To find the whalers.
03:43They will be reminded why they fear us.
03:46To fight whalers.
03:47We're going to prove to the whaling fleet just how relentless we are.
03:50And to stop the killing.
03:52Wherever they want to fight, we will fight.
03:56Because we never give in.
03:58And we never surrender.
04:02The world is a vampire.
04:22I just keep scanning like that.
04:3130 degrees off the port in every direction.
04:34That first one looks pretty curious.
04:37What, the one that's straight ahead?
04:39No, between the two icebergs.
04:41Huh.
04:42Could be the nation.
04:43Could be.
04:44Oh, I see which one you mean.
04:47All right.
04:49Yeah, it's ice.
04:51That's ice.
04:52That's ice.
04:53The Sea Shepherd ship, Bob Barker, is deep in the Antarctic.
04:58Where are my binos?
05:00At the helm is Captain Peter Hammerstadt.
05:04All right, let's bring up the speed again.
05:06He's the leader of this year's campaign, Operation Relentless.
05:10For me, it's a terrible thing that Paul isn't on this campaign.
05:14He is a master tactician and strategist.
05:17I hopefully can make the decisions that Paul would.
05:20And hopefully run into the Nishimaru as soon as possible.
05:24315 is the course.
05:29The Japanese whalers intend to take 935 threatened and protected minke whales, 50 endangered fin whales, and 50 endangered humpback whales.
05:38Increasing to 75.
05:39This year, I promised Captain Paul Watson that Operation Relentless will be the most successful Antarctic whale defense campaign to date.
05:46Keep a good eye out to Port.
05:51Okay, understood.
05:52There's a lot of pressure on Peter Hammerstadt.
05:55This year, it's Peter's campaign.
05:57It will make the big decisions, and in my hopes, be making the right ones.
06:02The sea shepherds face an uphill battle.
06:05The vessels are decades old.
06:08The crew is largely inexperienced.
06:11But their greatest challenge every year is simply locating the whaling fleet.
06:17Still nothing.
06:20There's something weird floating in the water.
06:26Where?
06:28I'm trying to find it again today.
06:31There.
06:32You see that?
06:33Oh, there it is.
06:34Oh, there it is.
06:35You see that?
06:36Oh, yeah.
06:37It's a bunch.
06:38What?
06:39Really?
06:40It's a bunch of ships.
06:41Finding a piece of rubbish in the water is a good indication that there may well be
06:46some ships ahead of us, and hopefully it will be maybe part of the whaling fleet.
06:51That's a good sign that we're close to them.
06:54150 nautical miles to the west is the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin.
07:00Turn due east and pick up speed to about 12.5.
07:04Okay.
07:05It is captained by Sea Shepherd veteran, Sid Chakravati.
07:08It would seem that this year would be really difficult for Sea Shepherd.
07:11There's probably going to be a lot of aggression from the Japanese whaler side,
07:15and our best bet at making this campaign a success is to stick with them and to outsmart
07:20them.
07:21Hello?
07:22Hey, Sid.
07:23We saw a bit of plastic in the water.
07:26Okay.
07:27Well, that's an indication then.
07:28So, we need that helicopter up as soon as possible.
07:31All right.
07:33Bye.
07:36The helicopter is the most powerful tool for locating the whalers.
07:40At the controls is Jerry Nell.
07:43Are you ready?
07:44Yeah.
07:45He's a veteran pilot with over 17,000 flight hours.
07:52We have to have a good look for those ships.
07:54He's nicknamed the helicopter the Sea Wasp.
07:57Sea Wasp is a box jellyfish, and they're very dangerous.
08:00I'm on my mission to find, seek and destroy, so I thought Sea Wasp is a good name for the
08:08helicopter.
08:09It would be nice if we find those ships.
08:12The most important target for the Sea Shepherds to locate is the Nishin Maru, the whaler's
08:19factory ship.
08:23When whales are killed by the Harpoon ships, they're transferred to the Nishin.
08:29Once they've been dragged up at Slipway, they're carved up and their meat is packaged for sale.
08:34The whalers claim they're performing scientific research, allowed by international regulations.
08:42They call the Sea Shepherd's actions criminal and liken them to terrorists.
08:48Where are you, Nishin?
08:49Our goal every year is to find the Nishin Maru, put our ships on the Slipway, and don't
08:54budge.
08:55That stops whaling.
08:56It's as simple as that.
08:57Keep a look out.
08:58Keep a sharp look out of that direction.
09:00The helicopter will search the area between the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker.
09:07400 miles to the north is the third ship in the Sea Shepherd fleet, the Sam Simon.
09:13It's captained by Adam Meyerson.
09:16All right, new course.
09:17Starboard 15.
09:18Starboard 15.
09:1915 is starboard going on.
09:21Last year I was first mate on the Sam Simon.
09:23This year we're going to be even more effective than we were last year.
09:26The Sam Simon is the Sea Shepherd's newest ship, and this year it has a unique role.
09:34It will function solely as a refueling vessel.
09:37The Sam Simon will be out of the hunt for the Nishin Maru, but we can keep the wailing fleet
09:42on the run for longer than ever before, and that's a victory.
09:48Bob Barker, Peter, any news?
09:50We're at point A, open water.
09:52They're not in this area.
09:55So we will continue course, and we'll update you if anything changes.
09:59Bye.
10:04The helicopter can find the mission right now.
10:06It's going to be zero kill this year.
10:11It would be a huge statement for the whales, but also for Peter Hammerstad, our captain.
10:15That's what we want.
10:16This year, Captain Peter Hammerstad is taking the biggest gamble of his career.
10:22He's betting that rather than hunting all over the 7 million square mile southern ocean,
10:27the whalers will limit their activities to the Ross Sea.
10:31His hunch is based on something taking place half a world away.
10:35Australia has told the International Court of Justice that Japan's scientific research program is commercial whaling in disguise.
10:44The International Court of Justice, located in The Hague, is the main judicial arm of the United Nations.
10:50The Australian government has brought suit against the whalers, challenging the claim that they're doing scientific research.
10:56The case is important because it will give an international legal definition as to what the Japanese are doing.
11:04Is it legal or is it illegal?
11:06If it rules against Japan, I think it will justify everything that we've been doing for the last decade.
11:11The verdict may not come down for several months, but in the meantime, the court case could have a major effect on the Sea Shepherd season.
11:27Let's keep this course for now.
11:31Most of the whaling grounds are located in what many consider Australian territory.
11:36Because of the lawsuit, Peter is betting that the whalers will avoid these waters, and that leaves the Ross Sea.
11:43I really want to find them today.
11:46I think they want to avoid a diplomatic incident with Australia, but if I'm incorrect, we could potentially never find the whaling fleet this season.
11:53Let's find them.
11:59But if I'm correct, we have the best chance we've ever had to locate the whaling fleet before they've had a chance to kill a single whale.
12:11I think anyone will be more relieved if we find the mission than Peter.
12:14You see that band of ice there?
12:22There's a different color of ice there that I want to check out.
12:27You see that one looks like it has a mass, just slightly to the right of our course.
12:32I can see that.
12:34That might be the mission.
12:36I'm not sure.
12:37I'm not sure.
12:41I can confirm that that is the mission, Myra.
12:44Oh, yes.
12:46You thought you were going to get away.
12:56That might be the mission.
12:59Yes.
13:00I can confirm that that is the mission, Myra.
13:03Oh, yes.
13:09Helicopter pilot Jerry Now has just found the Sea Shepherd's ultimate target, the mission, Myra.
13:15There is at least one Yushin with the mission.
13:18Yeah.
13:20It's accompanied by one of the fleet's three kill ships.
13:23This is the earliest in the season the Sea Shepherds have ever found the factory ship.
13:26You just got here to do what have you.
13:33All right, thanks.
13:35We got the mission.
13:49We got the mission.
13:51The helicopter is over at the mission with one of the Yushin.
13:53It's probably the earliest we've ever found the fleet.
13:57We're all so excited at the moment and just hopefully we can get onto that slipway before they're able to kill any whales.
14:02Awesome.
14:04With Peter Hammerster taking charge and calling the shots on the field, we've managed to get a visual of the Nishin Maru.
14:11That is a feat in itself.
14:13It's incredible.
14:15Peter's educated guess has paid off.
14:17He's located the Nishin Maru in the center of the Ross Sea.
14:22The Steve Irwin has plotted an intercept course, but they're 100 miles to the southwest.
14:28The Bob Barker, however, is only 30 miles away and hopes to have the factory ship on radar in under an hour.
14:35Let's get the boats uncovered.
14:38Okay.
14:40We've been really preparing ourselves for the fight over the Nishin Maru slipway and it's just like this sudden relief of all emotion.
14:47Everyone just suddenly becomes ecstatic.
14:50We are ready to go into battle.
14:52So we're going to catch up pretty quickly.
14:54Oh, great.
14:56Nice.
14:58I was very happy with the victory that we'd found them and that we'd found them earlier than ever before.
15:04Now, my hope is that we'd found them before they'd had a chance to kill a single whale.
15:09We need to check to see if they're in a hunting situation or not.
15:14Okay.
15:16The harpoon is uncovered.
15:18Is the harpoon loaded?
15:19Yeah.
15:20I don't think they're chasing a whale. I don't see a whale.
15:25What are they doing there?
15:27I'm not sure.
15:28I'm coming closer.
15:32Oh, God.
15:37There was blood in the deck that obviously slaughtered one whale already.
15:41That's not a very pretty sight.
15:48Watchers with the knives out.
15:51God, it's horrible.
15:54That red.
15:55Yeah.
16:00They've got whales on the deck.
16:06They've got three, at least.
16:07Yeah.
16:09God.
16:10There were three minkies lying on the deck. One looked like quite a young one.
16:18And they were preparing them for slaughter, I guess.
16:21They've got a hose.
16:23Yeah, they've got a hose into it.
16:24There's a hose that they had stuck in its throat.
16:28It appears that the hose pumps water and it bloats the insides of the whale.
16:33We suppose that it then makes it easier when they do cut that whale open, the insides and blood and everything will wash out a bit thinner.
16:40That's disgusting.
16:41There was this beautiful, natural creature there. And then to have this man-made device stuck into its body, it was really depressing to look at.
16:50Peter here.
16:56Peter here.
16:59It's whales.
17:01They have been whaling.
17:03We have three minkies lying on the deck.
17:06There's blood and guts all over the place.
17:09Killing whales.
17:11Understood.
17:18Finding the niche in Maro so early, we really thought we were going to finally get to this no-kill season.
17:25And apparently, that's not the case.
17:28So, you know, we're pretty disappointed.
17:29The Aboriginal people in Australia have strong ties to the whales and they often do ceremonies to put the whales at rest.
17:44Because often, whale bones are displayed and Aboriginal people feel that the whales can't actually finally rest until their bones are returned to the sea.
17:51Okay, so this is for the whales.
17:54Because whales, we come down here for you.
17:57We weep for you.
17:58We fight for you.
17:59And we're going to be here for you to stop the whaling fleet and we're going to return your bones where they belong.
18:05Hey whales.
18:08May you have sanctuary and rest.
18:11May this be a place of safety and refuge for you always.
18:16All right.
18:17All right.
18:20From the oceans they came to the oceans they returned.
18:22Yep.
18:37You got a message?
18:38Yeah.
18:39From the heli it says the nation it's got three dead whales on its deck.
18:50Oh man.
18:54I thought of those whales that we haven't been able to save.
18:58That was hard.
19:00And it's like we failed.
19:02A bit deflating but we keep pushing on.
19:09We should have spotted the nation on radar a while ago.
19:16It's making me very anxious.
19:18So we should be able to see them soon.
19:21If the helicopter can just keep flying there's no way they can get away.
19:25That ocean is powering but it changed direction.
19:29The helicopter has been tracking the whaling fleet for over an hour.
19:33Hopefully the Bob Barker is close.
19:34They're awaiting the Bob Barker to take over watch.
19:40Does she better pick us up soon?
19:44I think you'd be able to see them.
19:46Yeah but the visibility is not good.
19:47Yeah.
19:48We've flown for an hour and 40 minutes.
19:49They might have to go back.
19:51The Sea Wasp is running dangerously low on fuel.
19:53They have just enough to make the 100 mile trip back to the Steve Irwin.
19:55But this would mean leaving the Nishin Maru free to hide again.
19:59Not much longer.
20:01The most important thing is to get them on radar.
20:02Bob Barker, Sea Wasp.
20:03Got it.
20:04Sea Wasp, Bob Barker, go ahead.
20:05Okay guys.
20:06We have to start going back.
20:08So we don't see them on radar yet, right?
20:09No.
20:10Oh.
20:11Look without that.
20:12It's not that much longer.
20:13But this would mean leaving the Nishin Maru free to hide again.
20:15Not much longer.
20:16The most important thing is to get them on radar.
20:19Bob Barker, Sea Wasp.
20:20Got it.
20:22Sea Wasp, Bob Barker, go ahead.
20:24Okay guys, we have to start going back.
20:27So we don't see them on radar yet, right?
20:33No.
20:34No.
20:35Oh.
20:37Without the helicopter, they're going to get away for sure.
20:41Okay.
20:42Okay, understood.
20:45With the Nishin Maru not yet on the ship's radar, it will be lost to the Sea Shepherds.
20:50So close.
20:52Without its Sea Wasp tail, the Bob Barker must now once again locate the Nishin.
20:59You know, if we lose the Nishin Maru, even though we're in close proximity,
21:03we're probably going to be chasing it down until the end of the season.
21:08Right now, they are like right on the limit.
21:12We just need like another two or three miles to get them on radar.
21:14We have to get them on radar.
21:15Hey, Si.
21:16Can we get someone off the cross last piece?
21:17I'll do it again.
21:18We'll keep a really good eye around the horizon.
21:19Yeah.
21:20Yeah.
21:21That's them, isn't it?
21:22That's them.
21:23That's them.
21:24That's them.
21:25Yeah, that's them there.
21:26That's them.
21:27That's them.
21:28The Bob Barker has located the Nishin Maru on radar.
21:31You can run, but you can't hide.
21:32That's them.
21:33That's them.
21:34Yeah, that's them there.
21:36The Bob Barker has located the Nishin Maru on radar.
21:37You can run, but you can't hide.
21:38We've got the target.
21:39We've got the target.
21:51Very soon in the season.
21:52Very soon.
21:53Very soon.
21:54Okay.
21:55You can run, but you can't hide.
21:56You've got the target.
21:58Very soon in the season.
21:59Very soon.
22:02Pretty soon.
22:03Thanks, Si, Si.
22:04With her.
22:05Thank you, Si.
22:06Thank you, Si.
22:08Very soon the wills are blowing from happiness there
22:12We have been surrounded on all sides like a truck
22:18It seems like my plan for finding Manishimaru worked to perfection
22:24I've got them in the center of our noose. I just have to tighten it
22:38Hey, Si, we'll probably see them in about an hour. Are you okay to stay up there past your watch?
22:48For hours the Bob Barker has been pursuing a harpoon ship along with their ultimate target the Nishimaru
22:56They'll track them on radar until they come within visual range
23:01This year we found the fleet very early on it means that we might shut them down
23:06fast this year
23:08But now it really really is a high-pressure situation
23:12Paul Watson being away from us. Peter's got a lot of weight on his shoulders
23:17Nishimaru pretty fast
23:20We're getting very slowly
23:23Can we go up to
23:2582 now
23:27Captain Hammerstadt has been pushing the Bob Barker's aging engine close to its maximum speed for hours
23:35Going up to 87
23:41The Bob Barker is a 60-year-old ship. It's an older boat
23:43It has me a little concerned about whether we're gonna be able to keep pushing it catch up to them
23:49Can we push this anymore?
23:53I don't think it's a good idea
23:55Maybe on your mind Phil
23:58Nothing we're talking about was that nothing we're talking about
24:04We could blow a fuel line we could blow a rod or a bearing or a turbo and obviously any of those is going to make us have to stop
24:12We're really fast
24:14We're really fast
24:15We're going to see how much distance is covered in this last five minutes
24:17We're just going to be really fast
24:19It's kind of really fast
24:20It's quite obvious now that the Japanese whaling fleet invested money to try to increase the speed of the Nishimaru
24:27Okay full speed towards them
24:33Let's do it
24:35Let's do it
24:37Wow
24:39Flying
24:47And we are flying
24:49There we go
24:51It must be so happy
24:53Not a good day to be the Nishimu
24:55Not good
24:58Not good
25:02What is that burst now?
25:09Should we slow down?
25:11No we don't want to slow down
25:12Oh
25:13Electrical
25:18Okay
25:25Can you?
25:30Can you?
25:31Can you check?
25:33Do you have the steering?
25:34No we don't have steering
25:35We have no power
25:36We have to slow down then
25:41The Bob Barker's engine has completely shut down
25:44The crew scrambles in near darkness to try and find the source of the problem
25:55You okay?
25:56Yeah it's okay
25:57Is this fuel or water?
25:58Fuel
25:59So there's no air gate to the system?
26:00Is that what it is?
26:01No there's no fuel again
26:02No fuel gates
26:03There's no fuel getting anywhere
26:04Ah the, it's the alarm
26:05Where's the Nishin?
26:06It's gone
26:07The key to ending whaling this season has slipped off radar
26:11There's no fuel getting anywhere.
26:21Where's the Nishin?
26:23It's gone.
26:25The key to ending whaling this season
26:27has slipped off radar.
26:29The harpoon ship is also gone
26:31and free to kill whales unimpeded.
26:35When we were closing in on the Nishin Mara,
26:37we were going to end whaling for the whole season
26:39right there and then.
26:41To think that there might be people harpooning whales
26:43when we're not there
26:45makes me really angry and it makes me nervous
26:47that we might not be able to find them again.
26:49Well, that's a big disappointment.
26:51I take it very personally, you know,
26:54that we've lost the Nishin Mara,
26:56and I'm really pissed off.
27:09Lead engineer Erwin Vermeulen is attempting to fix their crippled engine.
27:25It's unknown how long the repair will take,
27:27but until the engine is fixed,
27:29they'll be at a standstill.
27:31Wow.
27:33Yeah.
27:34Wow.
27:35I know that now it's going to take us out of the action.
27:39Knowing that the Nishin Mara is running,
27:41but trying to find a place to whale.
27:43You know, it's distressing.
27:45So, any recommendations for the next five days?
27:49How to keep everybody happy.
28:01I feel a tremendous responsibility for the whales,
28:04but also my crew.
28:06They're depending on me.
28:08Ultimately, I guess I misjudged the speed that we can go,
28:12and I feel like I let the crew down.
28:15Our goal is to prevent the Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales,
28:20but because of the choice that I had to make,
28:22whales are being killed.
28:31Alfonso, I want this one out now.
28:35With the Bob Barker's engines crippled,
28:37they're no longer in the chase for the whaling fleet.
28:42Bob Barker, Peter.
28:44Hey, Peter.
28:45What's going on with the engines?
28:47We're still having issues with our turbochargers.
28:50So, you guys have to find the Nishin.
28:52Okay.
28:53Understood.
28:54All right.
28:55Thanks.
28:58The Steve Irwin is now the Sea Shepherd's only hope
29:01to reacquire the factory vessel.
29:03Bring it up all the way to 17, the maximum.
29:07But the Nishin could be anywhere,
29:09and finding it will be an enormous task.
29:12Deck Deck Bridge.
29:13I'm going to need that Crow's Nest watch right away.
29:16Copy, I don't worry.
29:17Copy, I don't worry.
29:34What's that?
29:36Seven and a half miles. What is it?
29:38The Steve Irwin has discovered an unknown target on radar.
29:44There's something tucked hard up against that iceberg on the horizon.
29:54Shonen?
29:55Yeah, I've got it.
29:56Yeah.
29:57The Shonen 2.
30:00The target is the Shonen Maru 2, part of the whaler's fleet.
30:05Is this happening?
30:07Damn.
30:09The vessel has taken up position behind the Steve Irwin.
30:13By tailing the Sea Shepherd's, it can now relay their coordinates to the whaler's factory ship,
30:18making the Nishin impossible to track down.
30:22It was just unbelievable they found us.
30:26You almost feel like it's game over, but you've just got to keep going.
30:33How far are they?
30:352.2.
30:36The Shonen Maru No. 2, they come down specifically with the reason to tail ships and the Sea Shepherd ships.
30:42Another one of those days, Bill.
30:44And when the vessels get on as tails, they do not leave unless we lose them.
30:49There's just not many options to do that.
30:52One of the only weapons the Sea Shepherds have against tailing ships are their small boat teams.
30:58They can slow whaling vessels.
31:01Put it up! Yeah, boy!
31:03Allowing the Sea Shepherds to escape their watchful eye.
31:07But the Shonen Maru is not like any other ship in the whaling fleet.
31:11The Shonen Maru No. 2, I think of all the tails, this is the worst tail to have
31:15because there's been really intense and quite violent clashes between it and the small boat crews in the past.
31:21What is it?
31:230.8.
31:25But also, this is the ship that sunk the Adi Gill.
31:27In 2010, the Shonen Maru collided with the Adi Gill.
31:32They hit it?
31:34Mayday, mayday, mayday.
31:36We've been rammed and sinking.
31:38Six crew members had to be rescued after the ship was split in two.
31:43The Shonen Maru No. 2 is very fast and they're very aggressive.
31:47So obviously it is a scary situation to be in.
31:50Can you tell me how far they are?
31:52They're half a mile, man.
31:53But we have to take a risk to find the Nishin Maru.
31:56We refuse to back down.
31:58We never have and we never will retreat.
32:02Okay, we go for it. Get the boats ready.
32:04Yeah. All right, all right.
32:06Sid will take his chances.
32:07He's ordered a small boat mission against the Shonen.
32:11We're putting the delta in the water.
32:13You guys, tighten that up.
32:15To slow the Shonen, the small boat crews will attempt to insert specially fabricated plugs into the whaling ship's cooling water discharge vents.
32:24This could cause the vessel's engines to overheat and ultimately seize, giving the Steve Irwin enough time to get away.
32:32This is only the second time the Sea Shepherds have attempted to use this tactic.
32:37We are ready to launch.
32:39A risky maneuver for the small boat crews.
32:42It requires close contact with the Shonen.
32:44It means they'll be face to face with the security forces on board.
32:48You two move aft.
32:49Veteran small boat driver Chad Halstead will be leading the dangerous mission.
32:54Claire.
32:56Over the past three and a half plus years, I've realized that there's so many unpredicted variables which come into small boat actions.
33:04We've had crew members hit in the face with long poles.
33:08I've had grappling hooks thrown into the boats.
33:12It really keeps me as well as most of the crew on their toes.
33:15Because there are very dangerous situations that could arise.
33:19Let's get them on the hooks now.
33:21One crew member that will have to remain on his toes is rookie driver Alastair Allen.
33:27I've been part of the small boat crew since 2011.
33:30But this will be my first year driving a boat.
33:33It was just sort of a natural progression.
33:35Tighten up.
33:37The way that we use our small boats is definitely very dangerous.
33:41All right, everyone ready?
33:42Having new drivers, it's intimidating.
33:45We're hoping that he's going to do a great job.
33:48Good luck!
33:50Helio Lake Bridge, you can open the hangar.
33:53Roger.
33:56The door's all closed, right?
33:57Yep.
33:59Jerry Nell and photographer Tim Waters will monitor the action from the sky.
34:02It's game time.
34:03Yeah.
34:04Let's go on.
34:10Delta's away.
34:11Delta's away?
34:12Yeah.
34:13All right, pick it up all the way.
34:23Right now, there's a level of nervousness.
34:25Because as soon as we put our guard down, they'll take that opportunity and they jump on it.
34:30And you don't know what they're willing to do.
34:34But this is a chance to prove that there's nothing that can stop us.
34:39There's nothing that can stop us from doing what we have to do.
34:41There's nothing that can stop us from doing what we have to do.
34:44Get a gun.
34:45Go, Gap!
34:53Captain Sid Chakravarti has just sent his small boat teams into enemy territory.
34:58All right, pick it up all the way.
35:00If they can slow down the security ship, it could allow the Sea Shepherds to reacquire their ultimate target, the Nishin Maru.
35:06Water cannons come on in the front now.
35:09Driving the two small boats of veteran Chad Halstead and first-time driver Alistair Allen.
35:15I've never experienced grappling hooks, holes to the face.
35:19It's an incredibly dangerous position to be in.
35:22There's a genuine element of fear in my heart.
35:25Once at the Shonen, they'll have to navigate the massive security ship while avoiding its defenses.
35:30This includes their high-powered water cannons.
35:34Those water cannons, they could really cause severe damage.
35:40It's really crucial for new boat drivers during those first few actions to pull up to these ships and establish kind of a bit of comfort.
35:52Don't try and just go in too hot.
35:54Here they go. Go get them!
35:55Chad will approach from the starboard side while Alistair approaches from the port.
36:02Let's have a look.
36:08Hey, watch this. This water cannon is probably going to blow up in their face.
36:11They're turning. Look, they're turning away. Stop.
36:25Yeah, I think the Delta Drive is a bit more used to it.
36:29Yeah.
36:31I don't think it's gonna work.
36:33It was terrible getting pounded by these water cannons.
36:36And we were very discouraged by the fact that, you know, it all happened so quickly and I really didn't think we would get hit by it.
36:45Aboard Chad's boat, Nick Rees will be responsible for plugging the Shonen's discharge vents.
36:51As soon as we get there, I pull out a plug and get ready to insert it.
36:55But that's when their defenses came into full effect.
36:57Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
37:03Hey!
37:05Hey!
37:11Oh, that guy's angry down there.
37:14Oh, they're coming to big poles.
37:16Three poles.
37:17They were vainly trying to stop me from doing what I was doing.
37:27But then there's a crew member of the Shonen with this pole, so it's lucky that Chad pulled away then.
37:31Otherwise, I could have been injured pretty badly.
37:34C-watch, C-watch, mother ship.
37:36Go ahead.
37:38Any indication of whether any of the objectives have been achieved?
37:42Negative.
37:43All right, understood.
37:48With the whalers armed with metal poles, Chad has called for plan B.
37:54Start with the big one.
37:56Prop fouling.
37:58Both the small boats from the Steve Irwin are equipped with lines to stop their ship via fouling their propeller.
38:04Prop fouling is incredibly dangerous.
38:07The small boats must cut in front of the massive ship's bow and drop heavy ropes,
38:11hoping they'll become entangled in the ship's propeller.
38:14Chad's boat will take the first pass.
38:19All right, come on, Delta.
38:28That guy's got a hook ready to throw.
38:30Yeah.
38:32From the helicopter, Tim Waters can see that one of the whaling crew has armed himself.
38:35He has what looks like a grappling hook or chain in his hand.
38:40Can you see, Joey?
38:41Yeah.
38:42If the Delta gets too close, he's going to throw.
38:44In previous years, the whalers have thrown grappling hooks at the small boats.
38:49We're in the shore.
38:51Causing injuries to its crew members.
38:54All right, Tim.
38:55Oh, no.
38:57This is dangerous.
38:59A grappling hook's a quite strong piece of steel.
39:02It could potentially rip a limb or somebody's flesh, so the dangers are really quite serious.
39:10Oh, he wants to. He's waiting with his hook. Look, he's getting ready.
39:14Seeing grappling hooks, they really aren't holding back at all.
39:18Power to action!
39:19Year after year, they continually get more and more aggressive.
39:24But for us, trying to match that level of aggression...
39:27This is the government of Japan.
39:29It's really the only chance that we have of winning this thing.
39:32This is what we've been waiting for.
39:34Here comes a Delta they're about to go through.
39:38That guy's got a hook ready to throw.
39:40Yeah.
39:42They're coming!
39:43As small boat driver Chad Halstead attempted his prop foul of the Shonen Maru II, a grappling hook and chain was hurled at the boat.
39:55They're coming!
39:57Fortunately, it didn't snag on anything, otherwise we could have been pretty badly hurt.
40:01It's already a grappling hook!
40:03New driver Alistair Allen is now in line to make his first ever prop fouling attempt.
40:09He knows he must navigate the Shonen's immense bow, but the grappling hook could potentially injure his crew.
40:17Here comes a homer.
40:21What's going on?
40:22I don't know.
40:23Looks like something is wrong with him.
40:26Stop, violence, action!
40:28This is the government of Japan.
40:30It's a dangerous situation.
40:32It's not really that surprising to see it freeze up a little bit.
40:38Go on, hammer.
40:41It's definitely a very formidable opponent to be facing.
40:45That guy's picking up his rope and hook.
40:49It's like looking down the barrel of a gun.
40:51You're staring straight into the face of a very destructive force.
40:55But at the same time, we're here to prevent the whaling down in the Southern Ocean.
41:00Get ready!
41:02Let's do it!
41:04Let's do it!
41:06The government of Japan.
41:10Aboard!
41:11Aboard!
41:12Aboard!
41:13Aboard!
41:15Aboard!
41:17Aboard!
41:19Alistair's crew has come out unharmed, and they were able to successfully drop a propfowler.
41:24They dropped that perfectly.
41:26The line is still going underneath the boat.
41:28Are they dragging?
41:30Are they dragging it?
41:32The ship is sea-washed.
41:34Sea-washed.
41:36Things are looking rather positive at the moment.
41:39Yeah, we've got a visual unharmed.
41:41Hello? They're slowing down.
41:42Allister's prop foul was perfectly executed, and the Shonen Maru is now at a standstill.
41:49They've stopped. They've just stopped.
41:51Just now?
41:52Just now.
41:53Gary, return to the ship.
41:55That's it. We're through!
42:00We're now 6.1 nautical miles away.
42:05Alright, pick it up.
42:07If the Sea Shepherds can reach a distance of 20 miles, they believe they'll be outside the security vessel's radar range, and they'll be able to escape.
42:18Whatever maximum the engine room is going to give us.
42:20Stealing bit by bit, but...
42:259.7 miles now.
42:27Alright, pick it up all the way.
42:29Let's keep our fingers crossed.
42:33Can you tell me how far they are?
42:35We're just so close to getting away.
42:39They're almost dropping off our radar.
42:41Oh my god. 0.8 to go.
42:44The tension was so high. Just hoping that this was going to work.
42:48It looks like they just dropped off.
42:50Alright, let's hit it.
42:52Mission Maru, Mission Maru.
42:55This season on Whale Wars...
42:58As a child, I was told that monsters don't exist.
43:01They do.
43:04I've seen them.
43:07And I've seen what they do.
43:10Here they come.
43:14They're speeding up.
43:16The aggression we have been seeing from the whalers has been increasing.
43:19Stay clear of us.
43:21We really need you guys to hurry up.
43:23Peter Hammerstedt has no concept of how rough it really is out there.
43:27Watch your head!
43:28Gemini, answer the radio!
43:30We're gonna lose the nation.
43:32I seriously think the campaign is over.
43:36We're not out of the battle yet.
43:39Sound the action stations.
43:41Hang on.
43:42There's a lot of risks involved in these campaigns.
43:46Go, go, go!
43:48But when you really believe in what you're fighting for,
43:50then there's absolutely nothing that can stop you.
43:52Race for impact.