Another clear and beautiful sunset on the port side, as we sail north back to Cape Town. Today was a bit of a deja vu, as if our brief stop in Cape Town before was a dream and we were still in transit. If it hadn't been for the two huge nuclear cargo ships we met yesterday…

It was no small dose of luck that made us find the Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Teal yesterday. You see, the sea is extremely huge, and even if there may be hundreds of ships going through a particular sea route, you may be on transit for weeks and never see anyone else. We had some information on the general position of the vessels, and with some techniques learned from years of searching for whaling vessels, plus some intuition, we changed course during the night and yesterday morning our targets appeared on the horizon.

It was a game of cat and mouse, since it looks like BNFL did their best to keep us from finding them. They would rather keep the plutonium trade in secret. For them we're a big nuisance, and we don't have any other option but to keep the pressure until the nuclear industry is gone. In Panama they have put a lot of pressure on, even blackmailed, the government to prevent Panamanians from deciding whether we want nuclear shipments through the Canal or not. Somebody is making a lot of money somewhere. Paradoxically, BNFL is a colossal financial failure, and it looks like the British taxpayers will end up paying for it. It's just a senseless, dangerous mess.

Meanwhile we keep things running here on the ship. There's still lots to do in South Africa for the WSSD. Since we're using the main engines, we have to do 24-hour watches on the engine room, and I've been waking up at 4 am every morning. My sleep patterns are totally disturbed, but it's OK - I get to see sunrises. Learning a little about fuel transfer, water treatment and sewage management, who thought this job would be so exciting?

- Mir

Volunteer

See yesterday's update for more

Arne Sorensen calling the nuclear cargo carrying Pacific Pintail to inform them of the Esperanza's peaceful intent ..more

Transferring someone from a speeding inflatable to the Esperanza at speed in rough seas is not easy.

Greenpeace Nuclear campaigner Tom Clements talks about the BNFL shipment in relation to the Earth Summitt [play]

The Esperanza's captain Arne Sorensen calling the Pacific Teal and Pacific Pintail [play]

First mate Waldemar hails the Pintail from the inflatable boat 'Harald' [play]

Tere radios a message on behalf of the people of the South Pacific [play]

Captain Arne farewells the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal [play]