By 3news.co.nz staff
Greenpeace has given its iconic ship The Rainbow Warrior II to Friendship, a Bangladesh-based charity which provides medical services in the southeast Asia region.
The vessel, which replaced the original Rainbow Warrior after it was sunk by French agents, was handed over at a ceremony in Singapore yesterday.
"After 22 years of traversing the world’s oceans in defence of the environment, the ship will be renamed as Rongdhonu, Bengali for 'Rainbow'," Greenpeace said in a statement.
A third Rainbow Warrior is currently under construction, and join the fleet in October, when Greenpeace celebrates its 40th anniversary.
“This ship has carried people from around the world and has stood as an icon of hope over pessimism and as an emblem of action over complacency, it is time to pass that task on," says Captain Mike Fincken.
Friendship currently has two hospital ships operating along the coast of Bangladesh and in the Bay of Bengal, donated by Luxembourg and Holland.
"After decades of work in bringing global awareness to mankind’s consciousness, the Rainbow Warrior as Bangladesh’s Rongdhonu will bring relief during natural disaster and help ease the physical suffering and pain amongst communities which have no access to dependable healthcare," says Friendship's Runa Khan.
"Friendship deeply believes that no development intervention is possible when one is suffering, and it is to ease such suffering that the Warrior will strive to work towards, for its new life as the Rongdhonu.”
After its inauguration, the newly-renamed Rongdhonu will set sail for Chittagong, and will arrive in September 2011.
3 News