His words echoed in my head, "...be courageous, do the best you can, and never be defeated by life's obstacles. Overcoming the small obstacles is what makes us victorious in the end anyway". The memory of these few sentences grounded me again, and in all the frenzy, I remembered why I was involved. I remembered that the act of helping our environment, and oceans in particular, is a part of my human nature, my calling. I am determined to forfeit my comfort and reach into the unknown with an open mind and heart. With this, I will begin a story. A story of Cod and the Baltic Sea.

After an intense press conference and an "open-ship" visit of more than 150 supporters, Captain Derek and the crew steered her out of the Malmo harbour at 13:00 hrs, on September 6, 2006. "Just don't block the doorways" I heard our Radio Operator Thom say, as I witnessed this momentous occasion from the bridge itself. The Arctic Sunrise is now officially sailing the Baltic, with 26 crewmembers on-board, heading towards Gdynia, Poland. It is not just any crew of course. It is a group of dedicated men and women, who are enduring life at sea to protect the fragile marine ecosystems and to save our eastern Baltic cod stocks.

The crew represents 15 distinct countries: Great Britain, Spain, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Canada, USA, Philippines, New Zealand, and Ghana. Armed with such cultural diversity, great senses of humour, and sheer determination, the crew is ready to act. Until September 15, 2006 (due to spawning effective from June 15) fishing of cod in the Baltic is illegal; until that time our actions will aim to expose pirate ships disregarding this ban. Update on the action itself will be posted on the web immediately after it is completed tomorrow, and please stay tuned to view the profiles of the interesting people residing onboard!

The clock just hit 12:30am. The constant bobbing is getting to me and my eyes are straining to see the letters on my computer screen. I look forward to tomorrow. Cod only knows what will unfold...