Sun Laurel

The Sun Laurel, a South Korean-owned oil tanker built in 2008 and currently operating under the Vanuatu flag, gained notoriety during an incident on February 20, 2013. At that time, it was chartered to resupply the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary but was involved in a confrontation with vessels from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which opposes whaling.

The conflict occurred when Sea Shepherd vessels, including the Bob Barker and Sam Simon, intervened to prevent the Sun Laurel from refueling the Nisshin Maru, the lead ship of the Japanese whaling fleet. The Nisshin Maru's captain, Tomoyuki Ogawa, rammed the Bob Barker four times, damaging the Sun Laurel's davit and crane. After a distress call from the Bob Barker, which was flooding, the Nisshin Maru retreated.

Some Sun Laurel crew indicated opposition to Japanese whaling by sending a message to Sea Shepherd vessels. The incident concluded with the Sun Laurel departing without refueling the fleet. Media reports initially suggested that the Japanese icebreaker Shirase had been dispatched to assist the whaling fleet, but official records showed Shirase was conducting its Arctic research expedition far from the incident site.

Despite later claims by Sea Shepherd and Australian officials questioning the legality of the Sun Laurel's operations in Antarctic waters, the tanker continued supporting Japanese whaling efforts. The Japanese government denied any connection between its research vessels and the whaling fleet, labeling Sea Shepherd's allegations as false.