Greenpeace Ships Essay Research Paper Greenpeace began

Greenpeace Ships Essay, Research Paper

Greenpeace began on the sea. It earned its first fame by sailing into the US atomic test site in the North Pacific and through the fights to save the seals and the whales. The sea — with its vast expanses and murky depths, home of leviathan, burial ground for atomic reactors and toxic wastes, its very immensity a cloak for the un scrupulous, belonging to everyone but no one, and so to be seized and used at the will of the mighty — the deep sea and its inhabitants have no neighbours and no witnesses to protest what is happening to them.

The Greenpeace fleet attempts to be that witness and good neighbour, checking to see that agreements are observed, to protest and when possible prevent destruction of marine life and resources. Greenpeace’s ships – and some of the fast and manoeuvrable in flatable dinghies that have proved so effective in Greenpeace protest actions – are the organization’s unique contribution to the environmental movement. The larger ships are all equipped with complete satellite communications facilities, as well as all the day to day needed items to run a professional sea going vessel at sea.

The name Rainbow Warrior was inspired by a North American Indian legend which prophesies that when man has destroyed the world through his greed, the Warriors of the Rainbow will arise to save it again. The new Rainbow Warrior replaces the original sunk by the French secret service in 1985. The three mast schooner was rebuilt on the hull of the former fishing vessel “Grampian Fame”, and launched on July 10, 1989, the anniversary of the sinking of her predecessor. Equipped with the latest in electronic navigation, sailing and communication equipment, she is an oceangoing vessel intended for assignments in the Pacific.

Sirius is named for the star Sirius, the brightest star in the firmament and a positive potent since ancient times. The Sirius was built to naval specifications at “Boele” shipyard in the Netherlands in 1950 as one of 7 pilot vessels. In early May of 1981, the ship was dry-docked in Scheveningen, where a handful of volunteers cleaned the hull, and gave it a thorough checking over to give it a clean bill of health. The following week, in Amsterdam, the former pilot ship began to be transformed i nto a Greenpeace vessel. The former owners – the Royal Dutch Navy – had maintained the ship well and the engine room appeared to be in good condition, but getting the ship ready for her first campaign in just 10 weeks was a haunting task. During this period volunteers of all ages and from many countries came on board for a few days or a few weeks to help out. The ship’s colour scheme was soon changed to a green hull and rainbow colours and a white dove of peace with an olive branch was painted on the bow. Many companies and suppliers contribute d their advice and goodwill to help the transformation take place. The galley was equipped; additional navigation and communication equipment was installed on the bridge; and inflatables, life rafts and fire-extinguishers were put in place. One of the pan tries was transformed into an outboard-engine workshop; the forward mess room was changed into a store-room for campaign equipment and inflatables, when not in use; and the wash room midships was made into a fresh food store. On July 13, the Sirius left t he berth in Amsterdam and the volunteers, who had made the maiden voyage possible, wished it ‘bon voyage’ at the locks to the North Sea. In 1985 the aft mast was removed and the hydraulic system renovated, so that the old cranes could be scrapped and repl aced by one new one. In 1986, to prepare the ship for a long campaign in the Mediterranean, the midships food stores were changed into a chill room, a satellite communications system was purchased and the small mess room was converted into a campaign off ice with a computer. Since that time the vessel has operated almost continuously in the Mediterranean, with occasional campaigns in the North Sea. Over the course of the years, the engine room wasn’t forgotten: apart from normal maintenance and upgrading, the old auxiliary engines were replaced by new ones and an oily-water-separator and sewage treating plant were installed. Since starting with Greenpeace in 1981, the Sirius has built up its own reputation as an action and information ship. It is well known all from Iceland to Italy. Even the Soviet harbour of Leningrad had the pleasure of a visit.

MV Greenpeace, a Dutch-built former deep sea salvage tug, was bought by Greenpeace in 1985. It was the readied for Antarctica where it has now already been six times for campaigns against whaling and the establishment of Greenpeace’s World Park Base.

It has been a very active ship in the Greenpeace fleet, straight from it’s first involvement in the anti-nuclear testing demonstartion in Moruroa in 1985, where it had taken over from the Rainbow Warrior which had been bombed by the French secret service.

Having travelled several times around the world, it has exposed Russian dumping of nuclear waste in the Japan Sea, brought to light dangers that the Brazil faces up the Amazon river, and whaling activities by the Japanes in Antarctica.

It also has made several research trips, to the Gulf after the war, to see environmental damage that had occured, and many fisheries and whale research, to highlight the plight of our seas.

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