The Rainbow Warrior (sometimes Rainbow Warrior III) is a purpose-built motor-assisted sailing yacht owned and operated by Greenpeace and intended for use in their activities such as environmental protests and scientific excursions. It was christened on October 14 2011, and will replace the Rainbow Warrior II after further upgrades and maintenance of the older ship has been shown to be impractical.

The vessel is the first Rainbow Warrior that is not converted from another vessel. It has been built in Germany, with the intention to both provide state of the art facilities for the group’s use, including advanced telecommunication equipment, and also produce one of the “greenest” ships afloat. Partly this is achieved by a substantial reliance on sails for propulsion, with the engine projected to be needed only for 10% or less of the time. Two 50-metre masts will carry 1,200 sqare meters of sail and the engine is described as a “state-of-the-art hybrid”.

All materials, from the paintwork to the insulation, have been chosen with a view to sustainability, and each component has been supplied with transparentethical sourcing. The boat was afloat in time for 10 July 2011, the 26th anniversary of the bombing of the first Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour by the French secret service.