In 1925, the introduction of factory ships revolutionized Antarctic whaling operations, allowing for more efficient processing of whales at sea. These modern vessels, equipped with stern slipways, enabled whalers to harvest and process large quantities of whale products without returning to shore. This advancement significantly increased the scale of whaling operations, raising concerns about sustainability and the impact on whale populations.

The dominance of factory ships in Antarctic whaling represented the extreme industrialization of the whaling industry, critiqued in later environmental literature by poets like Mary Oliver. This shift highlighted the tension between progress and ecological sustainability.