From: Crew of the Greenpeace vessel Altair tracking Shell Brent Spar dumping flotilla
Date: Monday 19 June 0800 hours BST

Subject: Brent Spar morning update, 0800 hours BST, Monday 20th June Part 1

Update in the morning from the Altair

The Spar is still being towed with one day to go before it reaches the dumpsite with a current position of 59 deg 52 North, 07 deg 54 West. Distance from land, 97 n miles NW of the Butt of Lewis on the outer Hebrides.

The distance travelled so far is now 330 n miles with another 103 n miles to go. The flotilla is travelling at an average speed of 1.8 knots. Current heading is 245 deg. Weather conditions are not in Shell's favour - rather rough - SSW force 6, sea swell 2.5 metres.

We on the Altair were given a warning by the Shell support vessel, Krombas, this morning, not to go within 500 metres of the Spar. We were told that there is a trap ready for us if we try to do this - more specifically they said that there is a net to catch us and divers ready to board us. The Krombas spokesperson then said, "So long as you keep outside 500 meters, I can go back to my bed, if not I warn you my trap is ready and my knife is sharpened."

Nice guy, huh? Guess he hasn't heard about our 22 years as a non-violent organization.

Brent Spar lunchtime update 19th June 1995, 1200 hours BST.

Our current position at noon today is 59 deg 48 North, 08 deg 09 West. Distance now travelled is 335 n miles, 95 nm to go to North Feni Ridge. Average speed is 1.85 knots, current speed is 1.9 knots. Distance from the Butt of Lewis is 97 n miles at a bearing of 223 deg (WSW). Heading is 243 deg.

Conditions - wind is SSW force 5/6, wave height is 1 metre, sea swell is 3 metres.

By our calculations, using the current speed as a guide, the ETA at the planned dump site is 1400 hours on 21st June.

Shell vessel HMS Orkney has now left our party - having been replaced by a larger vessel. This is too far away to be identified but has one GUN on the fore deck and large cranes on the aft deck. Orkney is rumoured to be heading for the Hebrides.

Shell vessel HMS Alderney has not been seen near the Spar and is assumed to be elsewhere on other duties.

The MV Solo left Stornoway (the West Isles of Scotland) at noon today with a large number of journalists and crew which will join us at the dump site, North Feni Ridge some time tomorrow. We will bear witness to the dumping of the toxic laden Spar flotilla should it go forward.

Today, there was a Greenpeace protest outside the Royal Dutch Headquarters in the Hague, the Netherlands. Tomorrow Austria, Ireland and Spain will join the eight countries who have called for the public not to buy Shell products in order to register their protest over the dumping of the Spar into the sea.

It is amazing to see the public and governmental support that we and the two activists occupying the flotilla are getting over the outrageous dumping plans for the once disused oil rig. However, we do not condone the acts of violence against Shell property that have been reported out of Germany. We urge people to employ only peaceful methods of protests (such as not buying Shell products, writing letters to your Environment Ministers and writing letters to the Shell Chairman).

More from the Altair as we go.

The Crew