MV Gojira docked in Hobart harbour, 2010. |
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| 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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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-piercing 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.
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.
In 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.
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]
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) 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.
In May 2011 the SSCS was served with a notice from the copyright holders of the Gojira/Godzilla franchise, 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.[6]
The ship was damaged by a 6 metres (19.7 ft) rogue wave whilst pursuing the Japanese whaling fleet off the western cost of Australia on 29 December 2011. As of 30 December 2011[update] the Brigitte Bardot was being escorted back to Fremantle by the SSCS flagship, MY Steve Irwin. The main hull was cracked and the port side pontoon was being held together by straps. The vessel was moving at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) with arrival in Fremantle expected this Friday January 6, 2012. Both ships are being followed by the Shonan Maru no. 2 and is 5 nautical miles behind both vessels.[7]
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