After 52 years at sea (22 years as a Greenpeace ship), the current Rainbow Warrior is heading for a new life. Over the last few days, the bell was removed, the ship’s mascot, a dolphin, was taken down and the Rainbow Warrior’s named painted over it. Finally, today at a ceremony in Singapore, the Rainbow Warrior was transferred to Friendship, a Bangladesh based NGO which will refit it for use as a hospital ship.
Captain Mike Finken hands over the Rainbow Warrior’s life belt to symbolize the handover.
The iconic protest vessel the Rainbow Warrior is transferred to Friendship, a Bangladesh based NGO which will refit it for use as a hospital ship. After 22 years of traversing the world’s oceans in defence of the environment, the ship will be renamed as Rongdhonu, Bengali for Rainbow. The ship will serve the coastal belt of Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal delivering primary and secondary medical assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities of the world, communities that have little or no access to basic health care facilities.
The ship will be renamed Rongdhonu, Bengali for Rainbow. She will serve the coastal belt of Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal delivering primary and secondary medical assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities of the world, communities that have little or no access to basic health care facilities. The Rongdhonu will also serve as an emergency medical ship around the region, bringing medical aid to areas which are already experiencing the effects of climate change.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony, Mike Fincken, Captain of the Rainbow Warrior II, quoted the Cree Indian prophecy from which the ship got its name: “There will come a time when the Earth grows sick and when it does a tribe will gather from all the cultures of the world who believe in deeds and not words. They will work to heal it…they will be known as the “Warriors of the Rainbow’.” Adding, “This ship has carried people from around the world and has stood as an icon of hope over pessimism and as an emblem of action over complacency, it is time to pass that task on.”
The Rainbow Warrior II first sailed for Greenpeace in 1989 and replaced the original Rainbow Warrior, after it was bombed and sunk by French government agents in 1985. Read more about the work the Rainbow Warrior has done over the last two decades.
But don’t worry; we will not be long without a Rainbow Warrior, as construction of a new Warrior, the third to bear the name, is nearly complete. The vessel will join our fleet in October as we celebrate our 40th anniversary!
The new Warrior is purpose-built and better equipped to tackle the great environmental threats of our time – like climate change, overfishing, destructing of forests and toxic chemicals poisoning the Earth, and will enable us to take action, year after year, anywhere in the world.
Want to support our work? We don’t take money from any corporation, government or political party! We never have, and we never will. Do help Greenpeace remain fiercely and proudly independent. We will send you a Greenpeace T-shirt as a thank you for showing support for our campaigns by donating. Click here to chip in.
Donate today or consider remembering Greenpeace in your Will.