Oceania
Oceania, a purpose-designed environmental campaigning vessel enables Greenpeace to amp up at-sea activity over some of the world’s most beautiful and ecologically precious waters.
Greenpeace’s first-ever ship to be permanently based in the Australia-Pacific region
Our region’s magnificent oceans face severe threats including offshore gas drilling, deep sea mining, overfishing, plastic pollution and climate damage. Oceania creates a dynamic new capacity for Greenpeace Australia Pacific to expose, document, and peacefully confront these and other threats to the oceans in our region, from the Great Barrier Reef to Western Australia’s Scott Reef, to the South Tasman Sea and the waters of Pacific Island nations.
Purpose-built campaigning vessel
The ship, a 24-meter aluminium ketch originally from France, was retrofitted and rebuilt on the Gold Coast over almost two months. The purpose-built interior allows for a crew of up to 11 and features specially designed environmentally conscious features, including four modern solar panels and the latest in navigation equipment for planning the most efficient long transits. The lifting centreboard in place of a keel allows the vessel to travel more efficiently and navigate shallow waters where few ships can go. The ship has two masts and five sails, allowing for it to transit primarily under wind.
Game-changer
We will use the Oceania to do what Greenpeace does best — bear witness, collaborate with communities, and take peaceful direct action against big polluters. With almost 50 years of at-sea campaigning in our wake, Oceania charts a new course in Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s legacy.
Beacon of hope
Australia and the Pacific are some of the most beautiful and precious places on earth, but also the most vulnerable. The Oceania will be a beacon, a spotlight and a messenger. It means big polluters have nowhere to hide in our vast blue backyard.
Ambassador
Oceania will help deepen and strengthen our relationships with Pasifika communities, who are not only on the frontlines of the climate crisis but are leaders in finding climate solutions.
“Oceania gives us the capacity we’ve never had before. Whether it’s to disrupt or to bear witness and show the world what’s going on, this boat is an extraordinary response to an extraordinary time.”
– Chris Hay, Head of Field Operations, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Meet the crew
Captain Daniel
Hi, I’m Daniel and I’m the captain of Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s new campaigning vessel. I’ve been at Greenpeace for nearly 30 years. I first worked on the Rainbow Warrior II as a volunteer, then later I worked as a chief mate, and eventually became captain.
The oceans connect everyone. Whatever you’re doing here in Australia, that could affect the waters of South America or Antarctica. With our boat we now have the chance to campaign further out at sea. We can reach more communities, we can campaign in locations we’ve never been to before.
This vessel doesn’t just belong to Greenpeace Australia Pacific – it belongs to the people, too. Because we all want to live on a healthy Earth and in a safe climate.
Georgie
Hey, I’m Georgie! I’m currently the Operations Coordinator at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
I’ve been sailing for 20 years. At the age of 15, following my participation in a sailing world championship in Israel/Palestine, where I was confronted and deeply affected by the pervasive militarisation of our world, I knew I needed to dedicate my life to the creation of a life-sustaining society.
Flash forward to today, and 15-year-old me is beyond stoked to be part of the Greenpeace Australia Pacific crew, tackling some of the biggest issues facing our Earth today. I am overjoyed that we have a dedicated campaigning vessel in our home waters because there is so much to bear witness to, from Pacific climate impacts, to destructive fossil fuel projects, we will be there.
Sarah
I’m Sarah, and I’m a Project Manager at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. I’ve been working for Greenpeace for nearly 5 years.
I worked in environmental science previously, but I wanted to put myself on the frontline of ocean protection, which is what drew me to Greenpeace.
We’re living in a pivotal time of ocean protection. We have the chance to stop deep sea mining before it starts, AND get a Global Ocean Treaty approved and taking effect.
This is why I’m so excited that we now have our own vessel – it means we can easily go out to sea to take direct action, conduct research, bear witness to environmental harm, and show the world firsthand what’s happening in our oceans.
Joe
Hi, I’m Joe! I’m the Actions Assistant and Warehouse Manager at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
I started sailing as a kid in lasers on the Hawkesbury, and since then I’ve had some truly magnificent experiences sailing across Australia and the Pacific on the Rainbow Warrior. I also helped deliver our new boat home to Australia and got to feel first hand the huge potential for action, research, campaigning and change that this vessel will bring.
I’m most looking forward to using the boat for direct action. Greenpeace is one of the few environmental organisations in Australia that takes direct action, and now we are uniquely placed to get hundreds of kilometres out to sea and disrupt environmental destruction.
