Skip to content

Greenpeace and Shell settle over North Sea protest

Greenpeace Three Greenpeace activists in dark trousers and fleeces standing on a large ship which is on the sea. They are holding a yellow banner that reads Stop Drilling Start Paying - Greenpeace. Greenpeace
Greenpeace activists boarded the White Marlin ship north of the Canary Islands

The environmental group Greenpeace has reached an out-of-court settlement with Shell after protesters twice boarded one of its North Sea installations.

The charity has agreed to pay £300,000 to the RNLI after campaigners climbed onto the floating production vessel while it was being transported to the Penguins field north east of Shetland last year.

The protesters have also agreed not to return to four Shell platforms.

Greenpeace has accused Shell of using "bullying tactics" against peaceful protest while the oil giant says the stunt posed a serious risk to life.

Greenpeace activists boarded the White Marlin ship north of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic in January 2023 and occupied it for 13 days.

Activists campaigning against fossil fuels and oil drilling used inflatable boats to reach the Shell-contracted ship, before hoisting themselves onto it with ropes.

Following the settlement, Greenpeace said it would continue to campaign against Shell, including in the North Sea.

Greenpeace Three Greenpeace activists standing on an inflatable boat which is on the sea. One is at the wheel of the boat and a man at the front is holding a yellow banner that reads Stop Drilling Start Paying - Greenpeace. They are all wearing orange, red and blue waterproofs as well as helmets and baseball caps.Greenpeace
The protest happened in the Atlantic in January 2023

Areeba Hamid, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said: "Shell thought suing us for millions over a peaceful protest would intimidate us, but this case became a PR millstone tied around its neck.

"The public backlash against its bullying tactics made it back down and settle out of court."

She added: "This settlement shows that people power works. Thousands of ordinary people across the country backed our fight against Shell and their support means we stay independent and can keep holding Big Oil to account.

"We've ensured not a penny of our supporters' money will go to Shell and all funds raised will be used to continue campaigning against the fossil fuel industry and other big polluters."

A Shell spokesperson said: "Shell is pleased that the dispute has been settled and that a payment in lieu of the costs it incurred can benefit a charity working on safety at sea.

"For Shell, the right to protest is fundamental and has never been at issue. Instead, this case was about an illegal boarding by protesters which a High Court judge described as "putting their lives and, indirectly, the lives of the crew at risk".

"He was also clear that Greenpeace could still protest from a safe distance and their human rights were not infringed."

Shell was originally suing Greenpeace for £1.7m in damages.