ACTION DIRECTLY TARGETS SEISMIC SHIP'S AIR GUNS - GREENPEACE ESCALATES CONFRONTATION AT SEA
London, 18 July 1997
In an escalation of its actions against the oil industry, the vessel MV Greenpeace today intervened directly to prevent the operation of a seismic testing ship's air gun.
At 1235 hours BST the MV Greenpeace launched two inflatables each towing an oil barrel which activists then attached to the testing ship's gun array and buoy.
The seismic vessel, the Atlantic Explorer, carries air guns at the heart of its 3 mile long, towed array. The gun is the key piece of equipment in the array, emitting high decibel explosions to survey the sea bed. The inflatables navigated through the testing array and attached one of the rattling barrels directly to the gun and one to a streamer buoy.
The activists then disconnected two Global Positioning Systems from the air gun. These provide the vessel with detailed information about its position. The equipment will be returned to the Atlantic Explorer.
These actions followed a morning of disruption after Greenpeace swimmers entered the water in front of the Atlantic Explorer forcing it to change course. The actions are taking place in tranche 52 which is licensed to Conoco. The tranche is some 400 miles from Rockall where two Greenpeace activists brought the occupation of the rock into its 38th day.
Speaking from the MV Greenpeace, campaigner Robbie Kellman said, "It was a serious move but the industry has to be stopped. Oil companies will not put the climate before profit so we must do it for them."
Yesterday the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced new regulations to implement the European Union Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) Directive. Executive Director of Greenpeace Peter Melchett said, "It is no coincidence that the DTI announces this measure the week before Greenpeace forces the Government into the High Court to defend its environmental record in the Atlantic Frontier. Sadly these guidelines do not affect the massive programme of seismic testing which currently going ahead in the area."
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Greenpeace Press Office on +44 (0)171-865 8255/6/7/8