The Elusive Factory Ship Nisshin Maru Is Found on 'Whale Wars' (VIDEO)

The Nisshin Maru, to use a very awkward analogy, is like Captain Ahab's White Whale to the crews of 'Whale Wars' (Fri., 9PM ET on Animal Planet). This factory ship is the central hub in much of the Japanese whale slaughter operation, so taking it out would effectively cripple the whole system.

So it was with an understandable glee that, after nearly two full months of searching, the helicopter crew spotted it. "Knowing they're just right there over the horizon is obviously the most exciting part of the whole campaign," said pilot Chris Aultman.

Unfortunately, finding the elusive vessel proved to only be the first step in taking it out of commission, and the men and women of 'Whale Wars' didn't take it out this time around. The Nisshin Maru escaped their grasp, but what they found once they can surely find again. Ahab never gave up, after all.