Greenpeace activists have boarded a Boskalis heavylift ship carrying a Shell floating production storage and offshore unit en route to the UK.
The environmentalist group claimed it had “occupied” what appears to be the 62,500-dwt semi-submersible White Marlin (built 2015) on Monday as it sailed roughly 378 km west of Morocco over demands the oil major stop drilling and pay for environmental damage.
“This ship is en route to deliver a piece of equipment that would enable Shell to pump out 45,000 barrels of oil PER DAY for over 20 years!” Greenpeace tweeted with the hashtag #MakeShellPay.
“Over the last 50 years or so, Shell has produced TEN TIMES the carbon pollution of the Philippines.
“Countries that have done the least to cause the climate crisis are paying the highest price.”
A video posted to social media shows three Greenpeace-affiliated boats speeding up to the White Marlin, while a second shows activists scaling the side of the ship.
A third called the FPSO a “critical piece of equipment that Shell will use to pump more climate-wrecking oil”. It shows an activist on the back of the White Marlin holding a sign that says “stop drilling, start paying”.
According to automatic identification system data, the White Marlin remains underway at 9.2 knots.
The ship is managed by Boskalis Offshore Heavy Marine, flagged in Malta and insured by Standard Club.
Boskalis confirmed the ship had been boarded.
“The vessel is continuing its journey northbound, we are monitoring the situation and are in close contact with our ultimate client Shell on how to proceed,” a company spokesperson told TradeWinds.
The FPSO appears to be the 58,000-dwt Penguins FPSO (built 2022), built in China for use on Shell and ExxonMobil's jointly-owned Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea approximately 214 km (150 miles) northeast of the Shetland Islands.
Shell said the field will provide a stable source of oil and gas for the UK as it transitions toward renewable power.
“These actions are causing real safety concerns, with a number of people boarding a moving vessel in rough conditions,” the company said.
“We respect the right of everyone to express their point of view. It’s essential they do that with their safety and that of others in mind.”
