Shell (SHEL.L) is suing Greenpeace for $2.1 million in damages after the environmental group’s activists boarded the company’s oil production vessel in transit at sea this year, according to Greenpeace and a document seen by Reuters.
The British oil and gas major filed the claim in London’s High Court. Greenpeace activists boarded the vessel in January near the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of northern Africa to protest oil drilling and travelled on it as far as Norway.
Four Greenpeace activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto the vessel from inflatable boats that chased the ship at high speed.
Protests at sea against oil, gas or mining infrastructure have long been part of Greenpeace’s operations.
The damages Shell is seeking include costs related to shipping delays and expenses for extra security, as well as legal costs, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Boarding a moving vessel at sea was “unlawful and extremely dangerous,” a Shell spokesperson said.
“The right to protest is fundamental and we respect it absolutely. But it must be done safely and lawfully,” the spokesperson said.
Lol eat rocks. “We support the right to protest when it doesn’t amount to meaningful change”
What meaningful change occured here though
Shell got pissed, if they loose they’ll pay legal fees and we’re reading about it.
The planet will still burn but at least we’ll have this cool story
You are reading about it, so it is at least spreading awareness (not of the problems we all already know exist, but of the fact that there are still people willing to put their necks on the line fighting for a better future).
Increased their operating costs. Won’t somebody think of the shareholders?!
According to the article, Shell incurred millions of dollars in expenses related to the incident
2 million dollars in damages from boarding a boat. No mention of any damage to the boat.
How much did they end up paying for dumping 80,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico?
Four Greenpeace activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto the vessel from inflatable boats that chased the ship at high speed.
Sounds exhillarating!
The damages Shell is seeking include costs related to shipping delays and expenses for extra security, as well as legal costs, according to a document seen by Reuters.
2 mil and no damage was done to the ship? Shell should be happy it wasn’t that “Stop Oil” group, I doubt there would be a ship left if they protested…
Sounds like a typical disingenuous suit to quash critical voices. Green peace are doing the work I want to do, if I didn’t have to work every week.
“Humanity sues SHELL for all the money they ever made, after severely damaging ecosystem” - WHEN?
I don’t really have patience for this type of activism. It’s a stunt that does nothing of real value. If they want to make change, work in the legal system via lobbying. Oh, but that’s hard. Smh.
Yeah why don’t they just raise billions of dollars to bribe the politicians like oil companies do?
Ya, chasing down an oil tanker at high speed and hoisting yourself up by rope is much easier /s
