She's been bombed, impounded, rammed by government ships, raided by police... and loved by millions of people. After 52 years at sea (21 years as a Greenpeace campaigning ship), the current Rainbow Warrior is heading for retirement.

Launched in February 2002, the Esperanza is the latest and largest vessel in the Greenpeace fleet, replacing the now retired Greenpeace.Esperanza (Spanish for "hope") is the first Greenpeace ship to be named by visitors to our web site.

The Greenpeace balloon can carry three people - a pilot and two passengers, such as a campaigner and photographer or parachutist. Three more people are needed to form the ground crew.