The Rainbow Warrior, the first and most famous of our ships, it is an undisputed icon. Since the 1970s, the Rainbow Warrior I, II and III have been a huge part of Greenpeace’s environmental work, including ending nuclear testing in the Pacific, blocking coal ports and closing down destructive fishing practices.
The first Rainbow Warrior was bombed in 1985 while campaigners protested nuclear testing in the Pacific. After 22 years of activity that included blocking coal ports and closing down destructive fishing operations, Rainbow Warrior II retired from Greenpeace life in 2011.
Our current ship, Rainbow Warrior III, was designed and built specifically for our use.
The newest Rainbow Warrior is as fast as many industrial vessels, with action boats that can be deployed in minutes – even in waves up to 3.5 meters high. Its helicopter landing pad means we can deploy a vital eye in the sky, enabling us to spot illegal fishing operations and shipments of illegal wood.
The ship can carry specialised equipment up to 8 tonnes in weight and designed so that scientists can work on board. By supporting original scientific research, we help build understanding of what is happening to our planet’s ecosystems.
The on-board satellite communications system – featuring a built-in satellite uplink – means the new Rainbow Warrior is able to stream live footage from the scene of environmental crimes direct to the world’s media.
Vitally, the third Rainbow Warrior is as environmentally-friendly as possible for a ship of its type, sailing primarily under wind power. Its 55m-high A-Frame mast system can carry far more sail than a conventional mast of the same size. The Warrior does have electric drive engines to help out when the weather isn’t suitable, but these are also built with sustainability in mind.
The Rainbow Warrior remains to this day a symbol of non-violent direct action and a beacon of hope.