The Southern Ocean is about to get heated.

Environmental group Sea Shepherd is about to confront yet another whaling fleet from the Japanese Government's Institute of Cetacean Research.

The Japanese Government has continued to ignore rulings by the International Court of Justice, and warnings from countries surrounding the Southern Ocean.

As part of 'Operation Nemesis' the Steve Irwin and the Ocean Warrior will attempt to stop the killing of 333 Minke whales.

There are 50 crew from eight countries aboard the new and improved ships which can now out-run the whaling fleet.

New Zealand director Michael Lawry said the Japanese continue to ignore the law, and they've had enough.

"They're in violation of many global authorities and countries so our plan is to go in and shut them down."

Mr Lawry said it won't take long for them to find the Japanese fleet.

He said they'll use aggressive tactics, but in a non-violent way through the use of a high-powered water cannon and their own ship to obstruct the fleet.

"This is a dangerous area but Sea Sheppard has a brilliant safety record, we've had no serious injuries or deaths in our 40 years of operation."

"The Japanese fleet instead has run over one of our ships in 2010, they've also had deaths onboard their factory ship the Nisshin Maru."

The Japanese typically hunt whales from December until March, so Sea Shepherd's vessels have been equipped to endure four months of harsh conditions at sea.