M/V GREENPEACE, 20 February 1995

The MV Greenpeace (225KB GIF or 86KB JPG) is currently campaigning in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary against the whaling that is happening in these waters. The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina at the end of last year and has been doing research in Antarctic waters for the last 1 1/2 months, including whale identification and recording of their underwater sounds, such as this orca song (389KB WAV) or (35KB RealAudio) , debris survey, photosynthesis analysis, as well as having conducted a series of base visits in the Antarctic Penisula region. Currently the M/V Greenpeace is in the Ross Sea area, where on the 9th of February it encoutered the Japanese whaling fleet that is here to kill 330 minke whales in the name of 'science'. Co-incidentally these same whales are to end up on the food markets at prices up to US$680.00 per kilo.

The M/V GREENPEACE, built in 1959, started life as an ocean- going tug and salvage vessel, then known as the ELBE. In 1977, she changed ownership to serve as a pilot vessel to the Association of Maryland Pilots, in the USA. In 1985, the Pilot Association gave the ship to Greenpeace as they had become shore- based and no longer needed the ship. The GREENPEACE was then refitted to make it fit for the upcoming Antarctic expeditions, strengthening the hull, preparing cargo space, and installing sophisticated communications and navigational aids. A year later a helicopter pad was also added. The 905T (gross) ship has an overall length of 58 metres, breadth of 11,22 metres, and has a draught of 4,45 metres. With two 1390 h.p. Smit M.A.N. diesels it cruises at a speed of 10kts, a maximum of 14kts. There are 32 berths onboard, although currently there are only 27 people onboard.

The vessel in its time for Greenpeace has been to the Antarctic waters on several occasions, also it has travelled as far as the Arctic, the Pacific islands, to the Arabian Gulf, around Indonesia and Eastern Asia, all around North & South America, including just recently a voyage up the Amazon river.

• Return to the Greenpeace International Home page