Images(3)

Riot shield

Date2007-2013

Object number00055522

NameShield

MediumPlastic

DimensionsOverall: 1010 × 655 × 110 mm, 4404 g

ClassificationsVessels and fittings

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Collection

Terms

DescriptionRiot shield, plastic, lightly scratched with tar in upper L corner. Reverse has plastic and foam padded arm rest with handle area (handle removed) --one of only two left in existence. Sea Shepherd Australia used riot shields to protect themselves from water cannons and other forms of attack during the 2007-2013 period of direct action engagements related to Southern Ocean whaling activities. Sea Shepherd Australia has since moved away from direct action engagements, preferring to work with governments and raise awareness peacefully.HistorySea Shepherd Australia is a non-profit conservation organisation whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd Australia used innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. Their current mission is to safeguard the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems and ensure their survival for future generations.SignificanceOne of two remaining riot shields from the 2007-2013 period of non-violent direct action, in particular engagement with Japanese whaling vessels in Antarctic waters.

In February 2007, Robert Hunter joined Farley Mowat in order to prevent the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru from hunting in an action Sea Shepherd called Operation Leviathan. Sea Shepherd members threw bottles of butyric acid onto the decks of the Nisshin Maru. The Japanese say three members of the whaler were injured in the attack. Robert Hunter and Kaiko Maru collided with each other. Robert Hunter sustained a 3-foot gash in the hull above the waterline at the stern of the ship. Three days after the collision, an unrelated fire broke out in the engine room of the whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and killed one crew member.
On February 6, Steve Irwin collided with the vessel Yūshin Maru No. 2 and later with the vessel Yūshin Maru No. 3 while they were whaling in the Southern Ocean. The Japanese claimed that MY Steve Irwin deliberately turned into the stern side of the vessel Yushin Maru No. 3.
For the next year, the ship was dry-docked in Brisbane while repairs to the hull and other alterations could be made. Included in these renovations was the installation of Steve Irwin's own water cannon for use in campaigns. During Operation Waltzing Matilda, Steve Irwin launched a helicopter and Delta RHIB to gather information on the MV Shonan Maru 2. Sea Shepherd was assisted by a group called the "Taz Patrol," which tweeted coordinates of Yushin Maru No. 3 to Steve Irwin.
In January 2010, the Ship continued to hunt for the Japanese fleet. After the loss of the Ady Gil in a collision with Shonan Maru No.2, the ship then returned to Fremantle. On February 8, Steve Irwin joined Bob Barker in pursuit of Nisshin Maru. Once the two Sea Shepherd vessels had linked up, Steve Irwin took up position behind Nisshin Maru to obstruct the factory ships slipway and engaged her with water cannon. On February 15, Pete Bethune departed from Steve Irwin, boarding Shōnan Maru 2. He was subsequently detained and later arrested.
In late February 2011, during Operation No Compromise, Steve Irwin was contacted by the Royal New Zealand Navy to take part in the search for Berserk, a polar exploration vessel. The search was eventually called off after Steve Irwin found an empty life raft, which was later confirmed to have been from Berserk. The three people on board are presumed dead.
Steve Irwin began patrolling the territorial waters of Libya in June 2011 in an effort to spot unauthorized bluefin tuna fishing boats and cut their fishing nets. On July 15, 2011 the ship was held by the British Government due to a pending lawsuit by a Maltese fishing company. The ship was released on August 2, 2011 after a bond of 520,000 pounds was posted.
In December, Steve Irwin joined Bob Barker and Brigitte Bardot in locating and pursuing the Japanese whaling fleet, which had passed by off the western Australian coast, on the way to the Southern Ocean for whaling operations.
On January 5 2012, Steve Irwin arrived in Fremantle escorting the severely damaged Brigitte Bardot from the Southern Ocean, monitored by the Japanese whaling ship Shōnan Maru 2. While in port, Steve Irwin defied an order by the Fremantle harbourmaster to lower the flag after docking in Fremantle. After departing the port, a team from environmentalist group "Forest Rescue Australia" approached and illegally boarded the security ship Shōnan Maru 2, with the assistance of small boat crews from the Steve Irwin. This action was slammed the action as "unacceptable" by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
On February 20, 2013, Paul Watson claimed the Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru rammed Steve Irwin, MY Sam Simon and Bob Barker multiple times in a confrontation in the Southern Ocean, north of Australia's Casey Research Station in Antarctica.