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The Rainbow Warrior III, operated by the international environmental activist group Greenpeace, sails into Durban yesterday. Picture: Clinton Wyness<\/p>\n
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One of the world\u2019s most environmentally friendly ships, Greenpeace International\u2019s Rainbow Warrior III, docked in Durban yesterday. It will be in port for two weeks before embarking on an Indian Ocean tour to draw attention to and fight over fishing in the region. <\/p>\n
Michael Baillie of Greenpeace Africa has been aboard the Warrior since it left Cape Town earlier this month. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis tour is about research, documentation and consultation with stakeholders,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to know exactly how overfished and depleted the region is and who is to blame.\u201d <\/p>\n
While the ship is in Durban it will undergo scheduled maintenance after which the public will be allowed on board during an open day. <\/p>\n
The Rainbow Warrior III has two predecessors. The original Rainbow Warrior was part of the effort that put an end to nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean and shut down destructive fishing operations. It was bombed in 1985. <\/p>\n
The Rainbow Warrior II enjoyed 22 years as a Greenpeace vessel and was retired last year. <\/p>\n
The current vessel is the first of Greenpeace International\u2019s fleet to be especially built and designed to serve the organisation\u2019s needs and boasts an impressive array of eco-friendly features. <\/p>\n
The hull is shaped for improved energy efficiency while the mast allows for wind-powered sailing, weather permitting. It is the first of its kind to be installed on such a large vessel. <\/p>\n
The ship incorporates electric drive engines which are only used when the weather is bad. They were designed and built with sustainability in mind. <\/p>\n
Used, dirty water can be stored on board so there is no need to dispose of it at sea. A special filtration system also cleans this water for re-use. <\/p>\n
A central filling and venting system for fuel and oil pre-vents spills. Toxic exhaust emissions are minimal. Even the ship\u2019s paint is environmentally friendly. <\/p>\n
Baillie said the trip along the southern Africa coastline had been \u201creally special\u201d with numerous whale sightings. <\/p>\n
\u201cOnce humpback whales swam within a metre of the ship for over an hour. Some crew members have been sailing for 30 years and have never seen anything like it,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
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