Greenpeace ships

For more than 50 years, Greenpeace ships have been sailing the world’s oceans, protecting the planet and fighting for environmental justice.

Get on board – Auckland Open Days

The Rainbow Warrior will be in Auckland from the 9th July and we will be open to the public for free tours on the weekends of 12th – 13th and 19th – 20th July. 

We’d love to have you on board!

Find out more

About the Greenpeace ships

Ships have always been at the heart of Greenpeace’s campaigns. Greenpeace was born when a group of activists set sail in 1971 to Amchitka Island, off Alaska, in an attempt to stop an American nuclear weapons test.

In 1977, the Rainbow Warrior was purchased by Greenpeace. The name Rainbow Warrior was inspired by a Native American prophecy that spoke of a time when humanity would unite to protect the Earth’s treasures: “When the world is sick and dying, the people will rise up like Warriors of the Rainbow…”

Since then, Greenpeace has expanded its fleet to include the ice-breaking Arctic Sunrise and several others over years. The newest and greenest vessel is the sailing yacht Witness. Each ship plays a crucial role in environmental protection.

Rainbow Warrior

Arctic Sunrise

Witness

Oceania

The Rainbow Warrior

The Rainbow Warrior is an undisputed icon.

Synonymous with breaking boundaries and fearless campaigning, Greenpeace has sailed with the name Rainbow Warrior since 1978.

Our current sailing ship has been patrolling the world’s oceans since 2011.

The Arctic Sunrise

Designed as an icebreaker, the Arctic Sunrise has witnessed the wonders of the coldest places on Earth.

It’s been part of the Greenpeace fleet since 1995 when it took its first trip to the North Sea to document marine pollution by oil from offshore installations.

Since then, the ship has been all over the planet, including the Congo, the Amazon and a three-month expedition to the Antarctic to conduct scientific research on biodiversity in the region.

The Witness

The Witness is the newest and greenest vessel in the Greenpeace fleet. At 22.5 metres long, it is also the smallest and, due to a lifting keel and rudder, is able to navigate shallow waters that are inaccessible to larger ships.

Built in 2003 in South Africa and previously known as Pelagic Australis, the Witness was launched in Greenpeace colours in 2021.

It embarked on its first campaign operations in early 2022 following a green refit, which included improvements such as solar panels, wind turbines and an optimised power management system.

The Oceania

From a ship yard with a global reputation for building fast, solid ocean-going yachts, Oceania has the pedigree needed to campaign in the biggest ocean area on the planet.

At 24 metres long, Oceania is a pure sailing boat. Her lifting keel and solid construction make her a great vessel to access areas unavailable to larger ships.

Oceania is permanently based in Australia so she will always be available to fulfil Greenpeace’s mission in the vast, blue Australia-Pacific region.

What do the Greenpeace ships do?

From obstructing nuclear tests in the Pacific, to documenting plastics in our oceans; from researching climate change in the Arctic, to stopping illegal timber leaving the Amazon – our ships are, and always have been, a fundamental part of Greenpeace worldwide.

Our fleet of ships allows us to be there at the scenes of environmental crimes around the world, often in remote and hard-to-reach places. When taking physical action to stop a destructive activity isn’t possible, ‘bearing witness’ through our presence at the scene is another way to expose the horrors of a practice and bring it to an end.

Greenpeace ships were crucial in establishing Aotearoa as a nuclear-free zone, the creation of marine mammal sanctuaries, protecting Antarctica from mining and oil exploration, and ending new offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand.

The ships also serve as platforms for education and advocacy. We welcome communities on board and host workshops, training sessions, and public events to engage people, inspire activism, and strengthen the global movement for environmental protection.

Where are the Greenpeace ships now?