In the Season 5 premiere, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society responds to Japan's 2011 announcement to resume its whaling operations in the Antarctic and the government's promise to beef up the fleet's security.

Captain Paul Watson's risky plan to intercept the whaling fleet before it reaches the whaling grounds is nearing a critical point. The Steve Irwin's new helicopter pilot, Gary Dukes, spots a ship on the horizon and approaches with extreme caution. If it is the Japanese whalers' factory ship, the Sea Shepherds are poised to claim the earliest victory ever in the group's war in the Southern Ocean.

The crew aboard the damaged Brigitte Bardot begin to panic when they fear help may not arrive in time to save them from rough seas.

With the Japanese fleet's security vessel looming on the horizon, the captain of the badly damaged Brigitte Bardot orders his crew to evacuate the boat. Meanwhile, in Antarctica, the Bob Barker deploys the small boats team to disable a harpoon ship.

The exhausted crew of the Brigitte Bardot scramble to evacuate the ailing vessel. And Captain Paul Watson goes on the offensive, sending a team to board the heavily armed security vessel: the Shonan Maru.

Captain Paul Watson's risky plan to intercept the whaling fleet before it reaches the whaling grounds is nearing a critical point. The Steve Irwin's new helicopter pilot, Gary Dukes, spots a ship on the horizon and approaches with extreme caution. If it is the Japanese whalers' factory ship, the Sea Shepherds are poised to claim the earliest victory ever in the group's war in the Southern Ocean.

When a massive target is detected on their radar, Sea Shepherd sends out their new helicopter pilot to ID the mystery vessel. But as the helicopter reaches the limits of its fuel range, it abruptly disappears, crashing into radio silence.

After months of frustration, Sea Shepherd finally find their target - the Nisshin Maru. Now, they must run an eight-mile gauntlet blocked by two harpoon ships aggressively defending their mother ship. The success of the campaign rides on this moment.