Rainbow Warrior will support Nuclear Free Irish Sea Flotilla

1 September, 2002

Dublin - The Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, took its place with The Nuclear Free Irish Sea Flotilla at its official launch in Dublin today. Dublin's Lord Mayor, Councillor Dermot Lacey along with politicians and celebrities unveiled the flotilla, which will sail out into the Irish Sea to peacefully protest against the two nuclear freighters carrying the rejected plutonium fuel back from Japan. A simultaneous event in Fishguard, Wales, saw yachts, kayaks and sailing boats gathering in a symbolic flotilla. Once the freighters reach the Irish Sea, the Welsh boats will go out to meet which will join the Irish contingent.

Yacht from the Nuclear Free Irish Sea Flotilla, Dublin.

“Greenpeace applauds the people taking part in the Flotilla, who are standing up for their right to peacefully protest against this outrageous shipment. The ships have suffered massive opposition on its long journey back to the UK, including the Nuclear Free Seas Pacific Flotilla in the Tasman Sea. The ships will now experience the further humiliation of facing the Flotilla in the Irish Sea,” said Daniel Rizzotti, Captain of the Rainbow Warrior. “Greenpeace is proud to be part of the Flotilla and the Rainbow Warrior will be there to support the yachts during their protest.

We will make sure that the nuclear ships, British Nuclear Fuels and the UK Government hear their protest loud and clear.”

The two nuclear freighters, the Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Teal, are currently off the coast of West Africa and are expected in the Irish Sea mid-September. The ships, which are already lightly armed with three 30mm cannons, will be accompanied back to Barrow-in-Furness by the largest police operation ever undertaken by the Cumbrian Police.

“This shipment has received the strongest global opposition since the diabolical trade and transport of plutonium began. After yesterday’s devastating news to BNFL about Japan’s indefinite suspension of their plutonium programme, the company now face an even more uncertain future,” said Shaun Burnie, Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaigner.

“This shipment is the ultimate indictment of the nuclear industry: it is completely unnecessary, extremely dangerous and the world neither needs nor wants it.”

Contact information:
- Daniel Rizzotti, Captain of the Rainbow Warrior, GSM Mobile +31 653 464 289
- Shaun Burnie, Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaigner, +31 627 00 11 33
- Mhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Nuclear Press Officer, +31 65 350 4731

- Photographs available from John Novis +31 65 381 9121
- Video available from Mim Lowe +31 65 350 4721

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