Pierce Brosnan and IFAW Launch New Vessel to Save the Whales

(London - 6 June 2004) -- International film star and environmentalist Pierce Brosnan today teamed up with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare www.ifaw.org ) to launch its new research and education vessel, uniquely designed for its mission to protect marine mammals.

Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Brosnan are committed environmentalists and IFAW supporters. Brosnan serves as honorary spokesman for IFAW's global whale campaign. Shaye Brosnan has recently been appointed to the organization's Board of Directors.

Pierce Brosnan said: "I congratulate IFAW and its tireless fight to save whales around the world. This unique sailing ship will contribute much to IFAW's heroic work. There is no cause I feel more passionately about than the health of our environment and I am enormously proud to launch IFAW's flagship, Song of the Whale."

The Brosnans launched IFAW's Song of the Whale at St Katharine's Dock in London today, Sunday, 6th June 2004, and wished her well on her maiden voyage to Iceland, where IFAW is campaigning against a recent resumption of whaling and working to promote responsible whale watching.

Keely Shaye Brosnan said: "Pierce and I joined forces with IFAW half a decade ago, during a campaign to save the last pristine breeding ground of the pacific grey whale from industrial development. Together with the help of the NRDC we were successful in protecting the world heritage site of Laguna San Ignacio, and we continue to support IFAW's noble work to protect whales worldwide.

IFAW President Fred O'Regan, said: "Song of the Whale is a unique vessel with a unique mission. She will dramatically increase IFAW's ability to protect whales through state-of-the-art research, education, and public awareness activities. We are thrilled Pierce and Keely could be with us to launch this new flagship in the fight to protect marine mammals from extinction."

IFAW's Song of the Whale has been ten years in the planning and replaces an older, smaller IFAW vessel which travelled more than 250,000 miles around the globe over 17 years, developing cutting-edge techniques for studying whales and other marine animals without harming or disturbing them. Song of the Whale's research team has pioneered floating classrooms for schoolchildren, conducted baseline surveys of critical habitats, contributed to the establishment of whale sanctuaries and promoted responsible whale watching as a humane and sustainable alternative to whaling.

IFAW's new 21-metre vessel has been designed and built to the highest standards as a working sailing boat and will be able to operate in any ocean in the world, with berths for up to 13 people. She is run by a permanent team of nine; skipper Richard McLanaghan, first and second mates, a team of five scientists and a communications and education officer. The team is led by Anna Moscrop.

Research equipment including underwater microphones and specially designed outriggers will be stored on the rear deck, while a classroom, communications/computer room, workshop and wet lab are housed below. A crow's nest mounted on the mast and an A-frame behind the helm provide look-out points for photo-identification, video tracking and observing whale behaviour.

Song of the Whale cost £1.5 million to build and was funded by IFAW supporters around the world and donations in kind from the marine industry. Many of those who funded and helped realise the project were invited to celebrate the launch at St. Katharine's Dock, including yacht designer Simon Rogers and Southampton boat builders Blondecell.

Notes to editors:

1. IFAW has more than two million supporters worldwide and offices in 15 countries. Its mission is to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation, protecting wildlife habitats, and rescuing animals from emergency situations.
2. IFAW was founded in 1969 to confront the cruel commercial seal hunt in Canada, but today also campaigns to protect whales, elephants, apes threatened by the bushmeat trade, pets in impoverished communities with no access to veterinary care, oiled wildlife, and other animals facing cruelty or extinction.
3. Whales are threatened by a range of human activities including commercial and so-called "scientific" whaling; habitat destruction caused by offshore and coastal industrial development; chemical and noise pollution; entanglement and bycatch in fishing gear; and accidental collisions with shipping.