Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior III sails into Hong Kong
Ship showcases green technology as group urges power firms to sign up to energy saving goal

Five huge sails on a mast more than 50 metres high, a specially designed hull and cutting-edge technology combine to make the new Rainbow Warrior III one of the most eco-friendly vessels ever built. Less than two years old, the bottle-green ship will dock in Hong Kong for a week, the first stop on Greenpeace's "Save Energy for our Future" tour of East Asia. The ship will be open to the public over the weekend.
It can reach 15 knots, an impressive speed for any ship of its size but, powered up to 80 per cent by wind, it uses only a fraction of the fuel.
All exhaust gas is filtered to minimise nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, sewage is biologically treated and stored to avoid pollution by releasing it into the ocean. The crew's garbage is sorted and kept on the ship until it can be disposed in a location with recycling facilities.
The pioneering green technology demonstrates the potential of high-efficiency engineering and construction, which is one message Greenpeace is emphasising in Hong Kong.
At the opening ceremony yesterday afternoon, senior campaigner Prentice Koo spoke of the importance of green buildings and electricity market reform, in light of the interim review of the Scheme of Control Agreement between the Hong Kong government and the city's two main electricity providers. The interim review commenced in January and the report is due before the end of the year.
Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing attended the ceremony with legislative councillor Frederick Fung Kin-kee and Kwun Tong district councillor Tang Wing-chun.