Monday 27 September 2010

Greenpeace switches tactics on drillship protest

Two Greenpeace activists who were hanging off the anchor chain of a Chevron drillship off Scotland were forced to abandon their action at the weekend when a court ordered they get off the vessel.

But 24 hours later Greenpeace again stopped the Stena Carron from sailing to drill an exploratory well by swimming in front of it.

Four protestors left the Greenpeace ship Esperanza yesterday afternoon by inflatable speedboat and dived into open seas 100 miles north of Shetland, causing the Chevron ship to stop.

Greenpeace intends to send waves of swimmers and campaigners in kayaks out in front of the drill ship throughout today to pressure it into turning back.

Greenpeace is demanding a ban on all deepwater drilling west of Shetland.

A Chevron statement said: "This latest act is extremely dangerous and once again demonstrates that Greenpeace is willing to put its volunteers at risk by entering the path of the Stena Carron while the vessel is in transit. Chevron is concerned for the safety of those involved and, while we acknowledge and respect the right of Greenpeace to express its views by peaceful and lawful action, we condemn activities that put people at risk."