In 2014, the International Marine Mammal Conservation Society began development on the M/V Barracuda version one (1) to combat whaling activities in Antarctica (Mainly as an assistance platform to other groups which were taking action at the time). It would have been a high-speed vessel that would have achieved speeds in excess of 60 knots, and provide sea control against the whalers.

Since the whaling fleet have left Antarctica for now, the whalers around the world have in some manner, changed their entire operations or operating structure, like operating closer to their home countries. To counter this, we’re developing version two (2) of the M/V Barracuda, dubbed the Long Range Offshore Interdiction Patrol and Research Vessel (LROIP-RV).

The M/V Barracuda will be the world’s first and only dedicated ship, that we know of, with an on-board hospital for wildlife rescue, the capacity to deploy large sea pens and construct IMMCS maritime surveillance facilities or ‘sea bases’ to provide long term wildlife protection and rescue capabilities on the high seas. 

While every organization has its supporters and haters, we must mention clearly that we don’t do the possible, we do the impossible because if you’re not pushing the boundaries, then what are you doing for wildlife conservation?

The International Marine Mammal Conservation Society’s plan is for the M/V Barracuda patrol vessel to be capable of monitoring, as well as engaging poachers within the area of operation, within 1,000-10,300 nautical miles, using drones, small boats and advanced or emerging technology and whatever additional custom enforcement tools we’ll have created.

By pushing out the range where we can physically engage the whalers, we make it harder for them to operate within that 10,000 nautical mile area, and perhaps in some cases just getting close enough that they know we’re in range to engage them is enough to cause them concern or force them to move away from hunting grounds altogether.

Engagements will not be conducted like previous organizations within line of sight or just over the horizon/ out of radar range of the vessels, the future anti-poaching units of the International Marine Mammal Conservation Society will utilize more advanced technology, hence the costs associated with the program, they will make use of long-range drones (air and sea based), lighter and faster interceptors that use new advanced hull construction materials, less fuel and have 3 times the range of traditional rhibs, and in the case of the Aegis submarine, it has the ability to operate 365 days without refueling, enabling the Aegis to run poachers vessels out of fuel. These few tools alone can grant the organization an unprecedented Advantage at Sea.

Because the whalers seek to keep-at-range from anti-whaling vessels using satellite and other advanced monitoring tools, we’ve opted to begin fundraising for long-ranged interceptors, helicopters, and a submarine which can exceed 100 knots and remain deployed for 365 days (An entire year).

This gives the whalers no time to react even if they did detect anti-whaling units, because unlike Sea Shepherd’s ships which could be easily tracked as they closed in, a submarine moving at over 100 knots will be on a suspected ship in just a matter of a few minutes – that’s if it surfaces at such a distance. The operations would move at a much faster rate than they have encountered in the past, and this would contribute to an uncoordinated response on their behalf.

Within six minutes or less, at a range of just 12 nautical miles from the Nisshin Maru, the Aegis submarine could surface and take action faster than a response would be deployed from the whalers. There would be nothing they could do to defend against such an anti-whaling platform, moving at such speeds. Below the surface it can operate at 30 knots in eco mode, while surfaced it can reach incredible speeds over 100 knots.

Aegis does not need to surface to take action – it can do so from undersea, fouling a ships propulsion, and deploying advanced unmanned undersea harpoon-line cutting drones to stop the transfer of whales from a harpoon ship to the mothership at extended ranges.

The hybrid helicopter with a 1,000 nautical mile range will provide a standoff capability to provide air support to OTH-LRAPV’s or deploy units onto a ship from 1,000 nautical miles away. The hybrid helicopter will support Anti-Poaching in Africa and out fly existing anti-poaching helicopters being used today in both speed and range – meaning it can get on station faster and has more time to conduct the mission than its predecessors and its cheaper to operate and maintain.

In addition, units on Over The Horizon Long Range Anti-Poaching Vessel’s (OTH-LRAPV’s) could employ launch and recovery systems with drones on-board to extend the range of our enforcement teams and even preposition drone refueling/ recharging locations.

Our bylaws now mandate that we must overwhelm poachers and retain that capacity. Too many organizations attempt to take action, only to be hindered in their efforts, needing to raise additional funding for additional tools, etc. We must deploy overwhelming capabilities from the start, the M/V Barracuda capable of over 40 knots and the Aegis Submarine capable of over 100 knots would be able to take action against poachers today and tomorrow.

The Aegis is a small to medium diesel/ electric and the worlds first truly convertible high speed submarine/ surface craft that can operate for 365 days. The 100 plus knot maximum speed and long-range enable it to run a suspected poachers small boat or vessel out of fuel, and would be vital to providing persistent monitoring and engagement against illegal operators at sea. No other anti-poaching organization is deploying this capability – ensuring we’re not duplicating other non-profits and providing our anti-poaching units an incredible Advantage at Sea