A Critical Need: Securing Our Own Vessel

Steel Against the Storm – Building the Future of Ocean Protection

Until now, the Red Quill Society has carried out its research and environmental crime investigations aboard discreetly rented charter vessels. This approach allowed us to operate under the radar — until it didn’t.

Earlier this year, while documenting illegal fishing activity, we were surrounded and rammed multiple times by pirate fishing vessels. They damaged our Lagoon 48 catamaran until it began to sink, slashed our life rafts, and attempted to board us with armed crew in zodiacs. We narrowly avoided serious injury, but the vessel was left in ruins — and insurers will no longer cover us for charter operations in contested waters.

The lesson was clear: without our own strong, steel-hulled vessel — built to operate safely in hostile or remote regions — our mission is at risk.

Owning our own vessel means:

Safer operations in high-risk areas
Reinforced hull strength and defensive modifications
Full control over deployment and mission timing
No dependence on third-party charters or vulnerable insurance agreements

We are now fundraising to purchase and outfit a dedicated research vessel capable of defending our crew, protecting our data, and ensuring we can continue our work — without compromise and without fear.

We are completely open to sponsorship and naming opportunities — whether for the vessel itself, key onboard facilities, or our research programs. This is your chance to stand alongside a bold, frontline conservation force and have your name tied to real-world impact.

How You Can Help:

Make a one-time donation of any size
Sponsor a mission or expedition
Contribute in-kind with equipment, supplies, or marine technology
Commit to a legacy gift or multi-year pledge

The Red Quill Society is a registered charity in the UK and a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Stand with us. Help us stay at sea. Protect the oceans — and the truth.

👉 Donate today