Cromarty Firth rig stand-off takes fresh twist with legal action against Greenpeace icebreaker ship heading north
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OIL giant BP has served an interdict on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise in an attempt to prevent the ship joining the occupation of the company’s rig in the Cromarty Firth.
The environmental campaign group says the 949-tonne icebreaker ship is due to sail for Scotland to support the ongoing occupation of the rig by its activists.
The latest twist comes amidst further court Highland appearances for activists.
Within two hours of the ship reaching Sunderland, representatives acting on behalf of BP issued papers to the crew of the ship seeking to prevent it from disrupting the transportation or operation of the oil rig, Greenpeace said in a statement this afternoon.
They say that BP has also made legal representations against another Greenpeace ship, the Esperanza, which is in UK waters as part of a major campaign to protect the world’s oceans. And it says it has taken out an injunction against Greenpeace UK.
The six-day stand-off in the Cromarty Firth, close to Cromarty, has seen three separate teams of Greenpeace climbers prevent the 27,000-tonne platform reaching the Vorlich oil field.
Greenpeace activists have been locked onto a gantry on one of the rig’s legs, surrounded by police officers attempting to remove them.
Greenpeace though remains defiant, vowing to sail on to Scotland to support the blockade of the BP rig.
Commenting on the legal move on the Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: "The Arctic Sunrise has a history of standing up to oil drillers in every corner of the world, from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico, where it documented the massive damage caused by BP’s Deepwater Horizon blowout.
"We won’t be cowed by the oil giant’s legal threats. BP is using every legal means available to stop us, and we'll be using every peaceful means available to stop them.
"This is now the frontline of the climate emergency, and the very future of our living world is at stake. Allowing BP to carry on with business as usual is not an option. We won’t give up until BP have ditched fossil fuels and fully switched to renewables."
BP said in an earlier statement: "BP continues to work with Transocean, Police Scotland and all relevant authorities to bring this reckless action by Greenpeace to a safe conclusion.
"BP supports debate, discussion and peaceful demonstration, but the irresponsible actions of this group are putting themselves and others unnecessarily at risk, while ignoring court orders and police action."
BP said it did not want to comment on the legal situation.
