Greenpeace says it has received a claim from Shell for the occupation of an oil platform by activists of the environmental organization. The oil group is asking for 100,000 British pounds (113,000 euros), also because Greenpeace activists have placed solar panels and a wind turbine on the floating platform. The platform is en route to the Norwegian port city of Haugesund.
Shell is also demanding that the four activists of the so-called FPSO, a floating platform for oil production and storage, leave the ship, according to Greenpeace. These are activists from Argentina, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. They are calling on Shell to stop drilling for oil and gas and pay compensation for the environmental damage resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.
The environmental organization refers to the record profit of 40 billion dollars made by Shell last year. Based on that profit figure, it would take Shell “less than two seconds” to earn the amount requested by Greenpeace.
Illegal occupation
Shell says it followed the court order due to a “dangerous and illegal occupation of a vessel carrying a crucial commodity on a busy shipping lane”. A spokesman for the group calls the request proportionate and says the intervention is necessary to “keep people safe and protect property”.
Earlier, a British judge ordered the activists to leave the platform. International shipping regulations often prohibit vessels from approaching within 500 meters of installations such as oil drilling platforms, as this can be dangerous. A London court then ruled that Greenpeace vessels Arctic Sunrise and Sea Beaver must maintain that distance from the White Marlin. The latter vessel was deployed by the Dutch company Boskalis to carry the FPSO to Norway.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
