Germanischer Lloyd (GL) is supporting “Rainbow Warrior II” to perform its philanthropic mission in Bangladesh after the vessel was transferred as a medical ship from the Greenpeace International to a Bangladesh-based NGO Friendship. GL has recently signed an agreement with Friendship to offer free-of-charge classification services for a period of five years.
After servicing Greenpeace for 22 years, “Rainbow Warrior II” will be refitted as a hospital ship renamed Rongdhonu, Bengali for Rainbow, and assigned to deliver primary and secondary medical assistance to communities along the coast of Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal that are hardly accessible to basic health care facilities. The vessel will also serve as an emergency medical ship to relieve some areas in the region from the effects of climate change.
“ We’re proud of our involvement in this unique project to help thousands of Bangladeshi citizens most in need of medical services,” said Mr. Lukasz Luwanski, Area Manager South Asia / Oceania, GL . “This is also part of our commitment to the South Asian country as a good corporate citizen. While assisting with the development of its shipbuilding industry, GL would also contribute to improving the welfare of its people leveraging our technical expertise.”
Since establishing an office in 1998, GL has maintained strong growth in Bangladesh. Almost all newbuildings built in Bangladesh for foreign owners are classed with GL, and GL has found its classification services expanded to almost all major shipbuilding companies in the country, covering a variety of ship types, including multi purpose vessels, oil tankers, crane boats, and general cargo vessels. GL’s existing orderbook in Bangladesh stands at 48 vessels, with several new orders under negotiation.
“Rainbow Warrior II” is a 55.2-meter three-masted schooner that was re-launched by Greenpeace in Hamburg in July 1989 with new masts, a gaff rig, a new engine and more environmentally friendly systems.
Currently, the Greenpeace International is constructing a “Rainbow Warrior III” at the Gdansk Shipyard in Poland. “Given our well-recognized reputation, expertise as well as years of good cooperation with Greenpeace, the new vessel will also be classed by GL,” said Mr. Luwanski .
[mappress]
Source: GL Group, September 2, 2011;