On January 26, 2015, at the annual Goed Geld Gala (Good Money Gala) hosted by the Dutch Postcode Lottery in Amsterdam, Sea Shepherd Global was awarded €8.3 million for a “Dream Project” vessel built to "Stop Illegal Fishing in the Southern Ocean". It was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder Damen in the port of Antalya, Turkey, and christened Ocean Warrior in September 2016. Its maiden voyage was M/Y Operation Nemesis, Sea Shepherd’s 11th Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign, in 2016/2017. Interesting Fact: The M/Y Ocean Warrior is Sea Shepherd’s first custom-built ship, and the fastest in its fleet, reaching speeds up to 30 knots.

Thanks to a $5 million contribution from the legendary American game show host Bob Barker, in 2009 Sea Shepherd secretly purchased and refitted a former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice-strengthened chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th for its first mission against the Japanese whaling fleet, Operation Waltzing Matilda. Interesting Fact: The Bob Barker originally operated as a whaling ship until 1962, and later confronted Sea Shepherd during its life as a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel.

The Sam Simon was named after the Hollywood producer most famously known for developing The Simpsons, an animal rights advocate who served on Sea Shepherd’s Board of Advisors until his passing in 2015. His generous donation made it possible to purchase the former Japanese vessel in 2012, when it joined its first Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign that December, Operation Zero Tolerance. Interesting Fact: The Sam Simon, originally named the Seifu Maru, was a Meteorological Observation Ship for the Japanese whaling fleet.

Purpose-built in the UK to set a record circumnavigation of the world (accomplished 1998), the Ocean 7 Adventurer trimaran was purchased by Sea Shepherd in 2010 and renamed M/V Gojira (the original pronunciation of Godzilla) to join Operation No Compromise in Antarctica. After a legal claim, it was renamed M/Y Brigitte Bardot in honor of the French actress and animal rights activist who accompanied Captain Paul Watson on Sea Shepherd’s 1977 seal defense campaign in Canada. In 2011 the vessel’s hull was cracked by a 6-meter rogue wave during Operation Divine Wind, and had to return to port for repairs. Interesting Fact: The M/Y Brigitte Bardot set the record for travelling further south than any other multi-hulled yacht.

Purchased in 2007, Sea Shepherd's former flagship vessel was previously operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. It was initially named M/Y Robert Hunter after the Canadian co-founder of Greenpeace who died in 2005. Its first expedition was the 2006/2007 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign Operation Leviathan. The ship was renamed M/Y Steve Irwin in December 2007 in honor of the late Australian conservationist and Sea Shepherd supporter. Retired in 2018, the Steve Irwin has embarked on more ocean defense campaigns than any other current Sea Shepherd vessel.