Thanks for those interesting facts tomas and phantom.

Cheers from switzerland.
Stefan

Well it seems we have "Steve and The Pirates" as the adventures of a Sea Shepherd vessel continue - nothing new there. Having left Perth, Australia recently she is her way to Toulon, France be way of the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. Therefore she must cross the Indian Ocean heading up past the Horn of Africa which as we know only too well are Somali pirate infested waters. She of course is now painted up in a camouflage paint scheme and with the number "77" painted on her hull to give the impression with her Netherlands flag flying of being a Dutch Government vessel - who knows maybe she is one. Her Master the intrepid Lockhart MacLean late of the MS Gojira reports that today two skiffs approached, one with six men on board and the other with five men on board. The pirates seemed confused by their fellow pirates and having followed for a few sea miles headed off towards a nearby container ship. The Master notified the coalition naval authorities after having been checked out yesterday by a Blackhawk helicopter which overflew and hailed the MS Steve Irwin as a Dutch warship. Yes indeed this camouflaged and numbered ship is indeed that old pirate herself from the Antarctic anti-whaling programme. Thus we have "Steve and The Pirates".
"Details from Nautical blog"

"As travel blog Gadling reports, the previously black Steve Irwin has been painted in camouflage and labeled with a giant “77” on its bow in hopes that it will be confused with a Navy vessel. And complete with barbed wire and fake weapons, this disguise has served them well."

Tomas

Does someone know what the "77" stands for???

Fishing support vessel is her official type classification according to Equasis - and this site's policy is to use the Equasis ship type.

I dont know what kind of research and support to the fishing industry this controversial vessel gives, I think she is better classified as something else such as special purpose vessels.