Duthie has even put a call into New Zealand to get a particularly good hat pattern.The Esperanza is organised like any other ship: captain, first, second, third mate and so on Most of the crew are adept at multi-tasking. “Like the A-Team we can make anything – except perhaps the cabbage throwing machine,” boasts one member of the Action Team. A blackboard in the mess keeps the crew up to date with the daily dolphin sightings and any pair trawlers that have been spotted There are rules to adhere to. Illegal drugs are banned and everybody on board must be familiar with man overboard and fire procedures. “We talk to lots of people,” she says conspiratorially, “and sometimes we do get phone calls.” Couple this with the spotter plane deployed to search the Channel and it all adds up to a slick, well-financed operation.The Greenpeace story began in 1971 when a group of anti-war protesters took non-violent action against US nuclear weapons testing in Amchitka, Alaska They chartered a fishing vessel and re-named her Greenpeace. The cabins are surprisingly comfy; the bathrooms boast power showers and there is even an onboard sauna.

“No, I only left Songs of Praise last week,” came the shaky reply.The crew is a cosmopolitan bunch with eight different nationalities and ages ranging from early twenties to over 50, with a mix of backgrounds including military and medical Most insist that they are not hippies. After crawling on their bellies and scaling fences, the cameraman turned to the slightly rotund TV researcher to ask if she engaged in this sort of filming often. A veteran cameraman recalls an incident when an Action Team was stealthily approaching a chemical plant. Clean up after yourselves.”Loic prepares lunch at one and dinner at six. At dinnertime, the more seasoned team-members demonstrate the art of rough-weather eating. This entails a one-armed plate hug, which not only ensures your dinner doesn’t slide away from you, but also leaves a hand free to ensnare forkfuls.The rest of the evening is spent in the lounge sinking beers and swapping stories.

A sign over the toaster reads, “Hey you, your mother doesn’t live here. The daily wake-up call is at 7.30 and breakfast is over by eight – expect the wrath of those on mess-cleaning duty it you are late The ship’s galley is run by a Frenchman called Loic Everything in it is strapped down “When it gets choppy I will cook pasta It is easier,” he says. Each dot represents a boat, so when two appear moving alongside eachother in a parallel line, it’s a sure sign they are pair trawlers.”It just feels like dolphin soup out there,” says Duthie sadly as her eyes scan the horizon for trawlers, “I saw quite a lot of dead dolphins last year but I still find it shocking. Greenpeace is currently involved in action against global warming, GM crops, whaling and illegal logging.But even the slickest operation can’t magic trawlers out of thin air, and waiting is the name of the game. The US subsequently abandoned testing in the Amchitka and Greenpeace was born The charity now boasts 2.8 million members worldwide In 2003 it reportedly raised £8.4m in donations. We’ve even found dolphins with their stomachs slashed open in an attempt to make them sink.”Information is the key to tracking the pair trawlers and this comes from all quarters. “If we want healthy oceans we need to go out there and make it happen.