Frank - Captain | Home

Hi, I'm Mannes.

I am from Oudeschip, the Netherlands... yes, another gloggy on the ship. I have worked for Greenpeace for over six years now... a period that is engraved in my memory.

Before Greenpeace I was sailing commercially . Six years ago I applied for a job on a factory fishing ship, but in the weekend before the job-interview I visited my local pub and ran into my cousin, who had worked for Greenpeacefor nine years. Of course he disagreed with my future plans, and I knew he would spend the rest of the evening buying me drinks, trying to change my mind ("good luck", I thought). After the cleaning lights in the pub switched on, we continued our "conversation" at his place looking at old Greenpeace videos and photos. After sunrise I walked out of his house, in one hand a Greenpeace flag and in the other a Greenpeace sticker... three weeks later I joined the MV Greenpeace.

Five months after joining I was involved in a climbing action that put my face in a lot of newspapers. This news also reached my home town, and after the minister of our village church announced in public that he was proud to see me taking action for a better world... I knew I had to watch my step in the future (ha ha).

Sometimes you are just not aware of what's happening... like how we are draining our world of its natural resources.

I think... would I have ended up on that factory fishing ship? I would have been shocked bywitnessing the amount of by-catch and the destruction it leaves behind. Raising awareness is for that reason one aspect I really like about Greenpeace. The more people that know what is going on, the more people that can form their opinion and hopefully do something with it.

So here I am back in the Southern Ocean. Last year I was also part of the Southern Ocean expedition on the Esperanza and I was really hoping that it would not be necessary to get back here to raise attention on the issue again. I will not get into details here and now - I don't want to make this a sad story.

For me the region of Antarctica is defenitely the most beautiful place in the world, and I feel privileged to be here - yeah, it is cold, but really amazing. Soon I will have my thousandth day on this ship and every day there is something else to see, waves as big as a house, totems in Alaska, an erupting volcano in the Philipines, dolphins, whales, icebergs, the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets, flying fish, places where there is no darkness, the Southern Cross, the Northern star, Albatrosses... too much to write down.

Before I am Getting all romantic here I better quit.

Thanks for your interest and support - keep visiting our sites!

Gegroet en het beste, Mannes

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story with us. There is also some trail that leads us to something beneficial. It was a good thing you ended up with Greenpeace and it's nice to know we have another great person helping to make a difference. Have a wonderful day.

Hey Mannes,
Maan here. I hope you still remember me. I'm glad you posted a blog where I can finally make a comment for you ;-P
It's so nice to see you back on the Espy and I am glad you guys are safe there. I know because youre the chief engineer! Glad to see that Maaike is with you as well :-)
I'm back here in the Philippines, we have had a cold spell but its definitely getting warmer.
After being in the Oceans Campaign, one thing is upppermost in my mind because of the extreme weather we are having: Global warming.

Safe winds take you home!

Maan

MABUHAY!!

I'm joseph, a 2nd yaer Marine Eng'g. student here in Philippines.It a very great decision you have made, to work for greenpeace. I'm interested to have my apprenticeship on
MV GREENPEACE, HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THAT. It wiil be much better if to have my apprenticechip there 'coz i can gain more knowledge regarding marine environment protection while completing my requirements for my apprenticeship.

[ Andrew, Greenpeace web editor in Amsterdam, replies: Great! We are always looking for good engineers. Please go here and apply:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/jobs/stichting-marine-services-engi.

Just add a cover letter saying you want to do your internship with us. ]

It is good to know of you.

What do we live for?
I find the great thing in this world is not so much; but is life.

Happiness is in the heart.

Congratulations.
All the best.

Iam a ships Engeneer from way back on the Shell Tankers and have faren the seven seas. and more but now Iam retired and live in Australia. You do a fantastic job what WE HAVE SEEN HERE on TV in Australia. The Dutch do the right thing in devending the wales who almost where exstingt by hunting. Have a save and plessant trip back home to Holland and hope you dont have to come back again. all my best wishes Frank Clemenkowff Eng Ret.