Greenpeace awaits interdict after swimmers are forced to stop blocking path of drill ship

Greenpeace activists are waiting to be served a court order banning them from blocking the path of Chevron’s drill ship Stena Carron.

The pressure group’s week-long protest against deep water drilling came to an abrupt end yesterday.

The oil giant released a statement saying it had been granted an interdict at the Court of Session in Edinburgh prohibiting activists from impeding the Stena Carron‘s progress to the Lagavulin oil field, 160 miles north of Shetland.
However, this morning Greenpeace said it had not yet received the order.

Campaigners, who had been swimming in front of the ship to prevent her from reaching her destination, were pulled out of the water and taken back to the Greenpeace ship Esperanza, which was waiting nearby.

Greenpeace representatives based in London are waiting for the order to be served before making any comment.

A statement from Chevron read: “The Interdict prohibits Greenpeace and its activists from impeding the progress of the Stena Carron or taking any steps to block its path in any way or to otherwise interfere with Chevron’s lawful operations in its licensed blocks in the Shetland region.

“We are now seeking to serve the Interdict on Greenpeace at their headquarters in London and on those onboard the Esperanza.

“Chevron condemns the actions of Greenpeace  in impeding the Stena Carron from going about its lawful business north of Shetland and have allowed its supporters to put themselves in danger by swimming in the path of the drill ship and forcing it to a standstill.

“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 deplore the recklessness of their actions so far and urge Greenpeace to respect the Interdict granted by the court and cease these activities immediately.”

Campaigners had been swimming in front of the drill ship around 100 miles north of Unst since Sundayat  lunchtime.
The ship had been heading to the Lagavulin field to await the granting of a drilling licence.

Greenpeace want a ban on deep water drilling, following the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
The latest action comes after activists attached a live-in steel pod to the Stena Carron’s anchor chain as she sat behind Bressay last week.