FROM: GREENPEACE CREW OCCUPYING THE SHELL BRENT SPAR OIL PLATFORM DATE: 20 MAY, 1995 -- DAY 21
Day 21 at 1600hrs on the abandoned oil rig, Brent Spar which Shell are planning to dump into the North Sea with all 130 tonnes of toxic sludge. We heard this afternoon that Shell's diving support vessel, the Stadive, which is eight times the size of the Spar and has been commissioned to pull us off the rig is about 10 miles away and we actually saw it on the horizon today. It looks huge, even from a distance.
The Brent Spar became a flurry of activity in preparation today - everyone getting prepared for whatever Shell may try.
We hear that Shell intend to ensure that the order to eject John Castle, the only one of us they know by name, will be served today - we are going to peacefully resist attempts to take John away. All is well aboard this gently swaying platform and morale is very high. The Moby Dick is standing by and the fishing boat Starina left yesterday evening with a German film crew and a journalist from the Independent.
At least we are not alone in our fight to keep Shell from dumping the toxic-laden Brent Spar. International opposition grows and this is sure to be a hotly debated topic at the upcoming North Sea Conference meeting coming up in early June. With 400 additional rigs in the North Sea the dumping of the Brent Spar would be a dangerous precedent to set!
More later.....
The Greenpeace crew aboard Brent Spar