Shell and Greenpeace settle over occupation action on ship

Shell and Greenpeace have settled in a case about an occupation action at sea. Just under two years ago, a ship that was on its way to a platform in the North Sea for Shell was partly occupied by six climate activists for thirteen days.

After the action, the oil giant filed a lawsuit against Greenpeace in London. To buy off the business, the environmental organization now pays 300,000 pounds, more than 363,000 euros. That money does not go to Shell. The parties have agreed that the amount will be transferred to the British-Irish rescue service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The two parties have also agreed that Greenpeace will not conduct protest actions at three Shell oil and gas fields in the North Sea for the next five years. Greenpeace is not allowed to demonstrate at a fourth field in the North Sea for the next ten years.

Shell said in a response that it is pleased to see that the dispute has been resolved. According to the oil company, demonstrating is a fundamental right and is “not up for discussion”, but according to the group this action was “dangerous for the activists and the crew”.

Greenpeace says it doesn’t like making concessions, but the alternative was “much worse.” Shell previously threatened a multi-million claim against the environmental organization, which could have had disastrous financial consequences, according to Greenpeace.