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Presenting the Allankay

Wednesday, 22 Feb, 2023

The latest addition to the Sea Shepherd Global fleet is the Allankay, a Patagonian toothfish longliner transformed into a marine conservation vessel.

The Allankay en route for the Southern Ocean! Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
Small boat training on the Tempest. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.

With the retirement of the Bob Barker on the horizon, we began searching for a suitable replacement in early 2022. After a few months we spotted the Corinthian Bay, a Patagonian toothfish longliner built in Norway in 1998, and lengthened by 10 meters in 2012.There were several fishing companies that also wanted to acquire the vessel, but thanks to our purchase this ship will never fish again.

The vessel has been renamed in honor of an Australian couple, Allan and Kay, who generously donated AUD $5 million to Sea Shepherd Australia for the purpose of buying a new ship. 

On April 28th we had a small handover ceremony on the bridge of the ship while docked in Henderson, Western Australia. The ship was then transferred to Walvis Bay, Namibia, where serious refit work took place throughout the summer and fall to transform it into a conservation vessel. All of the fishing gear and processing equipment were removed, and the fishing lines were donated to local artists. 

The Allankay is 54.5 meters in length and has a max speed of 12.5 knots. It currently sleeps 30 crew, but a second round of refit later this year will add enough bunks for at least 40. 

Ice-strengthened and suited to working in polar climates, the Allankay is now on its way to the Southern Ocean for Operation Antarctica Defense, and we’re confident it will be a capable ship in our conservation efforts for years to come.

Port of Registry Amsterdam
Built 1998
Length 54.5m
Weight 1155GT
Speed 10 knots cruising, 12.5 knots max
Number of Bunks 28 (+2 hospital), to be 40
RHIB Tempest
Names Seljevaer, Corinthian Bay

Watch us transform this ship from a toothfish longliner into a marine conservation vessel! Scroll right to see all 26 photos.
The long refit process began in the summer of 2022. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
A view of the fish cool room in June, before the refit of the Allankay. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Fishing lines were sorted and packed up to donate to local artists. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Tom helps removing fish processing equipment from the ship, such as this blast freezer. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Dismantling and removing the refrigeration compressors. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Craning out the refrigeration compressor. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Using the crane to remove more of the fish processing equipment below deck. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Loading hydraulics to be craned out of the former fish processing center of the ship. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Alex directs the crane operations on the ship. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
The crew is careful to wear all of the necessary safety equipment when removing insulation. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Removing insulation from the blast freezer is a messy job. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Finished removing rust in the fuel tank, another important but messy job! Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Grinding fishing gear off the aft deck. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Suzie prepares to clean the engine room fan. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Carefully sealing off all of the portholes. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
The Allankay gets its new paint job in dry dock. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
Checking the communications equipment on the mast. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
The communications center on the bridge. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Chad working on the bridge. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
Shanti prepares lunch in the galley for the hardworking crew. Photo by Crystal Coul / Sea Shepherd Global.
The galley of the Allankay. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
The mess of the Allankay. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
The crew lounge in the Allankay. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
Dave working on comms in the bridge. Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
Getting ready for its first campaign! Photo by Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd Global.
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