Rainbow Warrior

Rainbow Warrior is a series of three ships operated by the environmental activist group Greenpeace. The name is inspired by a North American Indian prophecy that speaks of a time when the earth is ravaged, a tribe of people known as the Rainbow Warriors will rise to save it. The ships have been central to a number of Greenpeace's direct actions.

Rainbow Warrior (1955)

The first ship to bear the name was the Rainbow Warrior (1955). Originally a UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) trawler called the Sir William Hardy, the ship was purchased by Greenpeace in 1977. The ship was involved in numerous Greenpeace protests and was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand in 1985 by French intelligence (see Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior).

Rainbow Warrior (1957)

The second ship to bear the name was the Rainbow Warrior (1957). This ship was originally a trawler called the Grampian Fame and was purchased by Greenpeace in 1989. The ship was involved in numerous Greenpeace protests and was retired in 2011.

Rainbow Warrior (2011)

The third and current ship to bear the name is the Rainbow Warrior (2011). This ship was built specifically for Greenpeace and was launched in 2011. The ship is one of the most environmentally friendly ever built and is powered by sails, with an electric motor for backup.

See also

• Greenpeace
• Environmental activism
• Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior