CHRONOLOGY

1st September 1995

All times are local Tahiti times.
03.05 Rainbow Warrior notifies of first inflatables launched outside exclusion zone.
04.25 All inflatables (6 from Rainbow Warrior, 3 from MV Greenpeace) now launched. Inflatables and Rainbow Warrior (with 17 people on board: 9 Greenpeace personnel, 5 journalists and three guests (Oscar Temaru, Eni Faleomavaega and Vito Mamaatua)) prepare to enter exclusion zone.
04.50 French Press centre releases that 2 Greenpeace inflatables are in the lagoon.
05.12 Rainbow Warrior enters exclusion zone, heading for entrance of the lagoon.
05.33 Informed that the RW has been boarded - 19 commandoes reported on board. Communication cut in middle of phone call from Stephanie Mills campaigner on board.

81KB GIF or 26KB JPG. French commandos board Rainbow Warrior ©Greenpeace/Morgan

85KB GIF or 28KB JPG. French commandos board Rainbow Warrior ©Greenpeace/Morgan

75KB GIF or 22KB JPG. French commandos board Rainbow Warrior©Greenpeace/Morgan
06.13 Rainbow Warrior crew reported in custody apart from the Captain Jon Castle, who was inacessible in the crows nest. Three inflatables believed to be in the lagoon, 2 divers in lagoon under platform. Warned frigate standing by that divers were in the water.
06.56 RW reported by the MV Greenpeace to be 6 miles from the entrance to the lagoon. Five inflatables (the three that entered the lagoon and two others) arrested. Images being trasmitted from MV Greenpeace to London. Helicopter returns to MV Greenpeace with tapes and departs.
07.05 MV Greenpeace reports military helicopters close by.
07.25 Divers reported arrested (Bill Mosca (US) and Heinrich Smital (Netherlands)). Two frigates and two helicopters hovering around MV Greenpeace. Jon Castle still in crows nest of Rainbow Warrior. Helicopter returned to MV Greenpeace.
08.03 Four inflatables still at large as far as we know.
08.32 MV Greenpeace being boarded by commandoes from helicopter(s). Xavier Pastor, campaigner on board, talking to us over satellite phone from radio room. He reported the commandoes had used blowtorches to enter the ship and were inside.

Video clip of commandos boarding the MV Greenpeace 1MB MPEG (sorry quicktime video not yet available).

Communication cut off.