Halifax has hosted numerous "protest vessels" over the years, many related to Capt. Paul Watson. He came to notice among those opposed to the seal hunt and later to whaling. Names of some of the ships have been the Sea Shepherd I and II, Cleveland Amory and Farley Mowat. Some of which were arrested and forfeited due to protest activities.
The latest ship is associated with the Paul Watson Foundation. Named the John Paul de Joria it arrived at the C.O.V.E dock in Dartmouth on August 8. The reason for its presence here is the detention of Capt. Watson on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland on a Japanese Interpol "Red" Warrant. The ship arrived there for bunkers and re-supply en route to the North Pacific via a Northwest Passage. Its intention was to intercept the Japanese whaling ship Kangei Maru. However the plan was disrupted when the Greenland police arrested Capt. Watson on charges related to whale hunt protest activities in 2010. He was then incarcerated as a flight risk.
Initially the detention was to be until August 15 but that was extended to October 2 and most recently to October 23. Watson's lawyers have appealed to the Danish supreme court on grounds including that Watson could not receive a fair trial in Japan.
The John Paul De Joria was built in 1982 as the fisheries patrol vessel Vigilant by Ferguson Bros of Port Glasgow. After service with the UK government, then by various Dutch and British owners it was acquired ca 2022 by the Paul Watson Foundation, an environmental protection organisation, (or the Sea Shepherd Society). It was renamed John Paul De Joria after a US billionaire. In a break from tradition, it has been painted with a "disruptive" paint pattern. Sea Shepherd vessels were usually painted all block, however in this case it is in combinaitons of blue / grey shades.
Regretably technical issues prevent posting a photo at this time.
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