ENVIRONMENTAL group Greenpeace may have broken the world record for living on the remote Atlantic outcrop of Rockall.

Two men were marooned on the tiny island when their supply ship was detained at Stornoway because it did not have an oil safety certificate.

Ironically, the mv Greenpeace was helping to disrupt attempts by US oil giant Conoco to survey for crude oil in British Atlantic waters, west of Shetland.

The Marine Safety Agency spokesman confirmed that the ship received a new International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate and could leave the town's harbour yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the environmental group said last night: "The longest anyone has been on Rockall was 41 days-we have had activists there for 45 days.

"The two men are OK and the ship is going out towards them. We think this is a record."