Rainbow Warrior in Cardiff
ic wales | 28.10.2002 16:04
Captain of Rainbow Warrior home again Oct 26 2002
Karen Price, The Western Mail
THE Welsh captain of the flag-ship Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, Derek Nicholls, has returned to his homeland for the first time with the vessel.
The crew have been making a dolphin survey in Cardigan Bay and yesterday they docked in Cardiff.
This weekend visitors to Cardiff Bay will be able to tour the ship which has been involved in some of the environmental charity's most hard-hitting campaigns, including protests against nuclear testing.
Mr Nicholls, who grew up near Mountain Ash but emigrated to New Zealand in 1972, has captained Rainbow Warrior for seven years.
"This is my first time back in Wales with a Greenpeace ship and I am really proud of that," he said. "It was a coincidence that the trip happened to be during my time on board."
Rainbow Warrior was a picture of tranquillity yesterday as it sailed into Cardiff Bay with its flags fluttering gently in the breeze. It was therefore difficult to comprehend that it has been involved in many turbulent situations.
One of the most frightening times for Mr Nicholls was just after he became captain in 1995. A group of French commandos jumped on board as the ship sailed to the Pacific island of Mururoa to protest against nuclear testing.
"It was about 4am and I was steering the ship when French commandos wearing balaclavas jumped aboard and sprayed tear gas at all of the windows so I could not see where we were going," he said.
"They then smashed a window with a sledgehammer and threw tear gas inside before taking control of the ship.
"Most of the crew had escaped on inflatables so there was just myself on board with a radio operator and another campaign-er."
The ship was seized by the French military and detained at Hao atoll for five months.
Mr Nicholls said such situations sometimes made him feel like giving up.
"We do lots of campaigns and I think `This is not working', but because of the way Greenpeace works maybe two or three months down the line you will see results."
Rainbow Warrior is the second ship of that name owned by Greenpeace. The first was blown up in New Zealand by the French secret service in 1985. A Spanish photographer was killed in the midnight attack.
The latest vessel was built in Yorkshire in 1957 as a trawler. It set sail for the first time as Rainbow Warrior in 1989.
There are usually about 12 crew members aboard and they come from all over the world.
Once they have finished the current survey for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society they will tour the UK promoting wind energy.
Rainbow Warrior will be open to the public in
Cardiff Bay today and tomorrow.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/page.cfm?objectid=12313972&method=full&siteid=50082
Karen Price, The Western Mail
THE Welsh captain of the flag-ship Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, Derek Nicholls, has returned to his homeland for the first time with the vessel.
The crew have been making a dolphin survey in Cardigan Bay and yesterday they docked in Cardiff.
This weekend visitors to Cardiff Bay will be able to tour the ship which has been involved in some of the environmental charity's most hard-hitting campaigns, including protests against nuclear testing.
Mr Nicholls, who grew up near Mountain Ash but emigrated to New Zealand in 1972, has captained Rainbow Warrior for seven years.
"This is my first time back in Wales with a Greenpeace ship and I am really proud of that," he said. "It was a coincidence that the trip happened to be during my time on board."
Rainbow Warrior was a picture of tranquillity yesterday as it sailed into Cardiff Bay with its flags fluttering gently in the breeze. It was therefore difficult to comprehend that it has been involved in many turbulent situations.
One of the most frightening times for Mr Nicholls was just after he became captain in 1995. A group of French commandos jumped on board as the ship sailed to the Pacific island of Mururoa to protest against nuclear testing.
"It was about 4am and I was steering the ship when French commandos wearing balaclavas jumped aboard and sprayed tear gas at all of the windows so I could not see where we were going," he said.
"They then smashed a window with a sledgehammer and threw tear gas inside before taking control of the ship.
"Most of the crew had escaped on inflatables so there was just myself on board with a radio operator and another campaign-er."
The ship was seized by the French military and detained at Hao atoll for five months.
Mr Nicholls said such situations sometimes made him feel like giving up.
"We do lots of campaigns and I think `This is not working', but because of the way Greenpeace works maybe two or three months down the line you will see results."
Rainbow Warrior is the second ship of that name owned by Greenpeace. The first was blown up in New Zealand by the French secret service in 1985. A Spanish photographer was killed in the midnight attack.
The latest vessel was built in Yorkshire in 1957 as a trawler. It set sail for the first time as Rainbow Warrior in 1989.
There are usually about 12 crew members aboard and they come from all over the world.
Once they have finished the current survey for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society they will tour the UK promoting wind energy.
Rainbow Warrior will be open to the public in
Cardiff Bay today and tomorrow.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/page.cfm?objectid=12313972&method=full&siteid=50082
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