Ships

The Rainbow Warrior in front of Kent Flats wind farm © Will Rose / Greenpeace.

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Just a quick one to let you know that we've just left Southend pier and are heading towards Chatham, to pick up the leaders of the UK's most important development, faith and environment groups - including the Women's Institute, Oxfam, Tearfund and RSPB - representing four million people.

From Chatham, we'll be sailing towards Kingsnorth, where the directors will sign a declaration saying: "Four million strong, we say no to dirty coal power stations, and yes to a clean green renewable energy future". The declaration will then be taken to Kingsnorth by one of our inflatable boats and delivered by hand to E.on staff.

The Rainbow Warrior passing Kingsnorth coal fired power station in Kent. © Will Rose / Greenpeace.

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Pete is a volunteer deck hand on the Rainbow Warrior.

Like a kid at Christmas, I've been struggling to get to sleep with all the excitement, but now I'm getting used to the ship's routine (even though every day seems to be different what with all the activities going on).

It's a multinational crew with stories to tell from around the world and all are really friendly and supportive - in true Greenpeace fashion. Three had to go home a couple of days ago and I find myself hugging people I've only known for a few days.

Nick, in a survival suit. © Will Rose / Greenpeace

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I'm not sure where to start. In the past 24 hours, I've watched senior advisers to the shadow cabinet take a ride in one of our inflatable boats (wearing Greenpeace-branded dry suits); mopped, swept and wiped all manner of surfaces; talked to artists, designers and film producers about our work and the coal campaign; learned how to coil rope properly; donned a survival suit during safety training (see the picture of Nick, resplendent in similar garb, above); helped to take down a giant banner; eavesdropped on energy policy discussions with advisers at the heart of Labour's government; and cleaned a lot of toilets.

I think I'd better start with the Tories, who visited the Warrior this afternoon. They were here not to have the mickey taken out of them as they got into the inflatable boat ("when we get to parliament, you three unfurl that banner and the rest of you storm past the guards" etc) but to talk about energy policy with our chief scientist, energy campaigners and policy wonks - just as Labour advisers did this morning.

The Rainbow Warrior coming through London's Tower Bridge. © Will Rose / Greenpeace

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Pete is a volunteer deck hand on the Rainbow Warrior.

I'm only on the Rainbow Warrior! With some awe and trepidation, I joined the ship yesterday afternoon. It's now Tuesday night and, fighting to keep my eyes open, I look back on my first, very full, day on board.

An early start to move the ship to Tower Bridge. With two RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) in the water, slightly twitchy river police turn up in a launch and escort us all the way up the Thames. It's impressive, the power Greenpeace has to motivate others...