14 April 2002

Two Greenpeace ships + one load of Amazon timber

Note: For the latest news on the action see the Rainbow Warrior homepage.

The Ancient Forest Summit is taking place in the Netherlands, but the Dutch government is not putting up much of a fight at it for the ancient forests. The Brazilian government has taken a good stand on mahogany lately, but at the conference their bureaucrats are undermining the nations who are pushing for meaningful action.

So when we heard that a ship carrying unsustainably logged wood from the Amazon was headed for Flushing, Netherlands, there was no way we were going to stand by and let it pass.

By 2:00pm we have found the MV Balaban 1, and launched our two larger boats. One boat is full of climbers, and the other will act as a safety and press boat - both race out towards sea to intercept the Balaban. The weather is good, but the sea is rough. We bounce across the water over 1.5 metre (5 foot) waves in our rush to reach the cargo ship.

When we get to the Balaban, it's moving at high speed and they've got the fire hoses out and waiting. Looks like harbour control tipped them off.

To get on board...

Not deterred, the climbers move in and, using a long pole, hook a wire caving ladder onto the deck of the ship. It's a nine metre (30 foot) climb to the top, and the crew of the Balaban are already trying to unhook the ladder. Damian starts up first with Harry right behind, but they're taking a pounding from the fire hoses. Soon Harry's off, followed by Damian. The crew throw the ladder down after them, and the metal hook lands on Harry's head - his climbing helmet saving him from injury.

We back off, and then the climbers go in for another try. The crew is unrelenting with their fire hoses, and quick to pull off the ladder each time it's hooked on. We realize this isn't working and head to the Esperanza, which is racing towards the port at eighteen knots. Everyone's wet and tired from the rough ride. Harry and Damian are both thoroughly soaked.

On the way, we spot boats headed out to meet us. The police? No. The Rainbow Warrior has sent in the cavalry - three boats and another climb team. We turn around and return to the Balaban. Our five boats now converge on the cargo ship as we move in from both sides at once.

Our first joint boarding attempt goes badly. Each climb team hooks their ladders on quickly, but are just as quickly repelled. The next attempt goes worse - both teams break their poles. Disaster.

Regroup

Our boats meet and regroup. Each team has lost a section of their pole. Without it the poles are not long enough to get the ladders up to the deck. The team from the Warrior give a section of their pole to the Esperanza team. Now we have only one pole long enough to reach, but hopefully the crew of the Balaban won't realize that. The team from the Warrior will act as decoy, and both teams will head to the port side this time.

It works to a degree. The Warrior team draws some fire. But another hose is turned on Harry from close range as he tries to climb up the ladder. The crew tries to get the hook off again, but activists pulling on the bottom of the ladder help hold it in place.

Slowly, Harry pulls himself up the ladder. He's more then six metres off the water now, and taking a beating from the hose. If Harry looses his grip now, he'll hit the water hard, and could be seriously hurt.

Everyone, activists and Balaban crew alike, expects him to fall. Instead, he keeps climbing - pulling himself up rung after rung. Till, amazingly, he reaches up, grabs onto the rail, pulls himself up to face the angry looking crew and asks, "Are you friendly?"

For a moment we're sure they'll push him off. Donald has moved the boarding boat away so Harry will at least land in the water instead of the boat.

Friendly?

Then, incredibly, the Balaban crewmembers start grinning like mad. Harry climbs on board, and gives them a leaflet in Turkish (since it's a Turkish ship) explaining why we are there. They read it while he unfurls a banner that says, "Stop Forest Crime". Some of the crew come over to pose with him and the banner - still grinning ear to ear. We are shouting from below and there's an exchange of smiles, waves and thumbs up. It turns out they're OK guys after all. They were told to defend their ship, and they did so furiously. But with Harry on board - and obviously not a threat to crew or ship - they turn friendly.

Soon, Harry is left alone as the crew rushes off to deal with more urgent work. The battle to board has lasted almost two hours and the ship is in the channel. Tugs are coming alongside and throwing lines to the Balaban to tow it to dock, but we have other ideas.

The Warrior into position

All eight Greenpeace boats, four canoes and the Rainbow Warrior itself move in to block the Balaban. The action is thick at this point. One activist grabs a towline and is lifted high in the air as it goes taught. He comes off - but lands well and is safely picked up. The propeller of another Greenpeace boat gets tangled in a towline, which then lifts it into the air. The crew is dumped out, and their boat crashes back into the water near by. When they get back in, they find the engine still starts so off they go - back into action.

At one point the Warrior and the much larger Balaban collide. Crew on the Warrior hurry to get fenders over the side. In the confusion, five more activists from the Esperanza climb on board the Balaban.

By six o' clock it's over. The Balaban has been stopped (at least for the day) - her captain gives up on docking and heads to a mooring buoy where she will spend the night.

Tour's end

For us this is an important victory. By keeping this load of Amazon wood out of the Netherlands, we are setting an example for the delegates - who tomorrow morning will be going back to work at the second half of the Ancient Forest Summit.

As for the Esperanza, we must leave. The ship is due in for some fine tuning and fixing before her next campaign, and our deadline is not flexible. No one feels happy about leaving some of our crewmates behind, but it's good to know that they and the crew of the Warrior will continue the protest.

The Ancient Forest Summit is half over. Send a message, that will be hand delivered to your country's delegation, demanding meaningful action and an end to a decade of talking without doing.

-- Andrew