Witness

The Witness is the newest and greenest vessel in the Greenpeace fleet. Originally the South African vessel known as Pelagic Australis, it underwent a transformation to become a Greenpeace ship in 2021.

SY Witness's Maiden Voyage in Netherlands. © Marten van Dijl / Greenpeace

This makeover included eco-friendly upgrades like solar panels and wind turbines, aligning with Greenpeace’s ethos of sustainability. Despite being the smallest in our fleet at 22.5 metres, the Witness boasts a lifting keel and rudder, allowing it to navigate shallow waters inaccessible to larger vessels.

In early 2022, the Witness embarked on its inaugural campaign, partnering with the Whale Conservation Institute to patrol the Argentine Sea. Here, the oil industry planned seismic explorations, posing a grave threat to the Southern Right Whale, a vital part of Argentine biodiversity.

Seismic exploration poses severe risks to whales, potentially causing harm and even deafness. As whales rely on sound for navigation, a deaf whale faces perilous consequences. This disregard for the environment and its inhabitants is precisely the challenge the Witness, and Greenpeace as a whole, was designed to confront.

The Witness stands ready to bear witness to such injustices, ensuring that the voices of our planet’s most vulnerable are heard and heeded.

The Pelagic Australis is transformed into SY Witness

During the transfer, the crew received a traditional ceremony in Cape Town harbour to wish the sailing vessel and crew the best of luck. The crew sailed from Cape Town, via the Azores, to Amsterdam in 6 weeks.