Caloundra’s reputation as a hotspot for ship spotting has swelled in recent months, with a virtual conga line of unusual vessels sighted.
The town’s lofty vantage points and headlands have consistently provided locals, visitors and marine enthusiasts with opportunities to see giant cargo ships, large-scale fishing boats, luxury yachts and grand cruise liners as they make their way along the shipping channel to and from the Port of Brisbane.
But the passing by of massive warship USS America last year was something to behold, and the sudden emergence of guided-missile submarine HMAS Dechaineux earlier this month was a real surprise.
Most recently, a rare marine conservation vessel was seen off the coast.
Allankay – one of just eight operating ships in the fleet of conservation organisation Sea Shepherd – was this month spotted by the likes of Sunshine Coast News reader Lesley Evans.
“Living on top of the hill at Kings Beach in Caloundra, overlooking the shipping channel, is one of life’s pleasures,” she said.
“I also saw (the late) Steve Jobs’ yacht (the renowned 78m Venus) going to Brisbane a few months ago.”
Sea Shepherd Australia communications manager Cass Willcocks said Allankay was on a tour of the Australian east coast, after a second operation in southern waters documenting the effects of large-scale krill fishing.
“The Allankay is Sea Shepherd’s key vessel for Operation Antarctica Defence,” she said.
“It has been shining a spotlight on the krill fishing fleets that are destroying Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem.”
The Allankay is a former Patagonian toothfish longliner transformed into a marine conservation vessel.
Built in Norway in 1998, it was lengthened by 10 meters in 2012 and became part of the Sea Shepherd fleet in 2022 thanks to a donation by an Australian couple, Allan and Kay.
It is 55m long, has a maximum speed of 12-plus knots and a maximum crew of 41.
Allankay’s month-long awareness tour included stops at major cities and it anchored off regional towns.
A media release by Sea Shepherd stated that the Allankay found a fleet of industrialised krill supertrawlers ploughing through hundreds of whales in Antarctica last year.
Sea Shepherd Australia managing director Jeff Hansen said the group was determined to put a halt to that type of fishing.
“Together, we will build the campaign to protect Antarctica and fight for a ban on destructive krill fishing,” he said.
“Industrial supertrawlers are emptying the Southern Ocean of krill, operating right in the middle of whales and penguins feeding.
“In essence, they are stealing food right from their mouths.
“Our mission to the Southern Ocean in 2023 broke the silence on just how destructive krill fishing is in Antarctica to whales, penguins, seals and our climate.
“Now, returning from our second mission with new damning footage to be released soon, Sea Shepherd is gearing up to ensure krill fishing remains on the political agenda as we fight for a ban on the industry in Antarctica.”
Ms Willcocks said she was unable to say where the vessel would head to next, other than to say it was heading to the South Pacific.
Like stories that inform, connect and celebrate the Sunshine Coast? So do we. Join an independent local news revolution by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed at the bottom of this article.
