For nearly 50 years, Greenpeace has been sailing the world’s oceans protecting our planet and fighting for environmental justice. From obstructing nuclear tests in the Pacific, to documenting plastics in our oceans; from conducting research into the effects of climate change in the Arctic, to stopping shiploads of illegal timber leaving the Amazon; from bringing humanitarian relief to communities devastated by extreme weather to collaborating with local authorities to arrest illegal fishing operations in West Africa – our ships are fundamental to Greenpeace campaigns. They are: Rainbow Warrior, Artic Sunrise and Witness.
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.
Arctic Sunrise
Designed as an icebreaker, the Arctic Sunrise has witnessed the wonders of the coldest places on Earth. The Arctic Sunrise has been part of the Greenpeace fleet since 1995 when she took her first trip to the North Sea to document marine pollution by oil from offshore installations. Since then, she has been all over the planet, including the Congo, the Amazon and most recently to a three-month expedition to the Antarctic to conduct scientific research on biodiversity in the region.
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 and 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.
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