Shell is suing Greenpeace for £1.7 million after its protesters occupied an oil rig for 13 days.
The oil giant says it supports the right to peaceful protest, but the “unlawful and extremely dangerous” action endangers the lives of both protesters and crew.
Six activists boarded the oil platform that was towed near the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of North Africa in January to protest against oil drilling.
They traveled with it for thirteen days and almost 4,000 kilometers, all the way to Norway.
They used ropes to hoist themselves onto the ship from inflatable boats that chased the ship at high speed as it sailed toward the Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea, which is not yet in production.
‘Unlawful’: Greenpeace activists on board Shell oil rig near the Canary Islands during protest
Greenpeace said the lawsuit is an attempt to “crush and intimidate” the group. Shell filed the claim with the High Court in London.
The damages Shell is seeking include costs related to shipping delays and costs for additional security, as well as legal fees.
“The claim is one of the biggest legal threats to the Greenpeace network’s ability to campaign in the organization’s more than 50-year history,” Greenpeace said.
The group said Shell has offered to reduce its damages claim to £1.1 million if Greenpeace activists agree not to protest oil and gas infrastructure at sea or in port again.
Greenpeace said this would only happen if Shell complied with a 2021 Dutch court order to cut emissions by 45 percent by 2030, which Shell has appealed.
Greenpeace said it will then consider next steps, including ways to prevent the case from continuing.
Southeast Asia chief Yeb Sano, who is named in the legal claim, said: “Shell is trying to silence legitimate demands: it must stop its senseless and greedy pursuit of fossil fuels and take responsibility… I will stand up in court and fight this.’
Shell said: ‘The right to protest is fundamental… But it must be done safely and lawfully. Boarding a 72,000 ton ship at sea was illegal and extremely dangerous.”