Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Oil firm goes to court over invasion of rig

Keith Perry
Saturday 01 April 2000 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An oil company has gone to court to force four Greenpeace protesters off a rig to which they have attached themselves. They climbed on to Sovereign Explorer yesterday to prevent it being towed from Cromarty Firth, near Inverness, to drill west of the Hebrides.

The Sovereign Explorer is chartered to Marathon Oil and owned by TransOcean FedCo For Ex. A Marathon spokesman said both companies were seeking an interdict to try to get the protesters removed.

Thirty other protesters have been charged with conspiracy to commit a breach of the peace.

In another protest, on Sunday, two activists chained themselves to the Jack Bates rig, which is also berthed in Cromarty Firth, as it was due to be towed out.

Greenpeace opposes drilling in the area known as the Atlantic Frontier because of its coral reefs and its importance as a whale breeding ground.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in