Greenpeace ship Esperanza in Auckland - open to public this weekend

Feature story - January 13, 2007
The sun wasn't shining on Tuesday 9 January, but there were smiles all round as about 60 people welcomed the Esperanza at Princes Wharf. The ship is here for two weeks and will be open to the public during her visit.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza arrives in Auckland Harbour.

It is the first time the Esperanza has visited New Zealand. She will be preparing for her voyage to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to stop whaling.

During her global expedition the Esperanza has confronted pirate fishers off the coast of West Africa, promoted marine reserves and threats to the coastal marine systems in the Atlantic, the Red Sea and the coastlines of India, and highlighted the overfishing of tuna in both the Mediterranean and the Pacific. 

Last whaling season the Greenpeace crew stopped many whales from being killed in the Antarctic. This year they will be carrying out activities designed by supporters who have posted their ideas on www.greenpeace.org.nz/whales.

This year, the Japanese Fisheries Agency plans to hunt 945 whales - 935 minke whales and 10 endangered fin whales - and the Esperanza will be there to stop them.

Open days for the public

Check out the on board web-cam!

Click here

Before they set sail, we are opening the ship for two weekends of public open days. Come on down and meet some of the New Zealand staff and the crew, have a look around Greenpeace's newest ship - at 72m long with a heli-deck and room for 33 crew, she's pretty impressive - and find out about where the Esperanza is heading.


Where:
Princes Wharf, Auckland (behind the Maritime Museum)

Dates: Weekends of the 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 January 2007

Time: 10am - 4pm

Entry is free. Your koha/donation is appreciated and will help our voyage.

Check out the on board web-cam!

Click here

The open boat days will be on regardless of weather. It may be a bit wet up on deck, but it's dry in the ship!

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