The ship was named for Irwin in December 2007, and Sea Shepherd founder, Captain Paul Watson, explained, 'For over a decade the Steve Irwin was our flagship, taking us to the remote and hostile seas of the Southern Ocean to defend the whales, to the Mediterranean to defend Bluefin tuna, and to the Danish Faroe Islands to defend pilot whales and dolphins.' The M/Y Steve Irwin is a (now-retired, massive, skull-adorned) ship that shares a moniker with the late nature-loving star and conservationist. However, that wasn't the only honor that Irwin received that was related to his name. He explained that the star 'and his family have put Beerwah on the map.' That's why, in September 2006, Beattie stated that he could 'think of no more fitting tribute than to rename the road that runs past Australia Zoo in his honor,' while announcing that Glass House Mountains Road would now be Steve Irwin Way. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie noted that Irwin was 'Queensland's most well-known ambassador ever,' according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
