Date: Sat 13 May. Time: 03.32 GMT

SHELL ATTEMPTS TO EVICT GREENPEACE FROM OIL PLATFORM

LONDON, 13 May 1995--Greenpeace last night vowed to continue its North Sea campaign to fight the dumping of the Shell Brent Spar oil platform, despite a legal attack from the oil company.

At 9.30pm last night, a Shell helicopter landed on the Brent Spar with two Sherrifs officers from Aberdeen carrying a legal injunction and wearing Shell survival suits. As the helicopter hovered over the platform, a 12 page legal document was faxed to the 13 Greenpeace activists who have occupied the platform for the past 13 days. Greenpeace lawyers are currently studying the document.

"Whatever strong-arm legal tactics Shell choose to use, Greenpeace will continue to oppose the dumping of the oil industry's toxic garbage in the North Sea," said Greenpeace spokesperson Chris Rose.

"Shell's attempts to use the courts to enforce its disastrous plan to pollute the seas demonstrates its contempt for public concern about its operations, fishermen's livelihoods and for the health of the North Sea," Rose said.

"Shell is chasing cash at the expense of the North Sea marine environment -- yesterday it announced a 35% increase in profits to 1280 million in just the first three months of the year. To dump the Brent Spar as a cheapskate alternative to responsible decommissioning with decontamination onshore is nothing short of obscene," said Greenpeace.

The Brent Spar contains over 100 tonnes of toxic sludge -- including oil, arsenic, cadmium, PCBs and lead -- and more than 30 tonnes of radioactive waste left over from oil drilling and storage operations on the Brent Oil Field. It is the first of the 400 North Sea oil platforms to be dumped at sea.

For more information, please contact Chris Rose on 0860 355271

For photographs of the Sherrif's arrival onto the platform, please contact Reuters, AP and PA London or Greenpeace ++44 71 833 0600

Date: Sat 13 May. Time: 16.24 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 13.5.95

DUMPING OIL PLATFORMS "SHOULD BE STOPPED" SAYS EU COMMISSIONER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

International support for Greenpeace action to prevent the sea dumping of toxic laden North Sea oil platforms continues to grow.

Last night Ritt Bjerregaard, EU Commissioner for the environment, appeared on Danish TV. Also last night Shell launched a legal attack on the occupiers of the Brent Spar in an attempt to force them to leave. Greenpeace is seeking legal advice.

Quotes translated from Danish TV:

Ritt Bjerregaard, EU Commissioner for the environment:

"Actually, I think most countries in the EU thinks this is dirty and that it should be stopped. If it is banned in the US they try other places and unfortunately there is both countries and enterprises in this situation who choose the cheapest option and we have to make sure they do not have that opportunity... is the simple thing to do and in the short term you avoid the problems with some firms and therefore they choose that. Therefore it is good that Greenpeace is around to ensure these things do not go on secretly."

Svend Auken, Danish Minister for Environment and Energy:

"We think there will be many hazardous substances which will escape into the enviornment this way, and in any case the sea should not be used as a dustbin....There are many problems in the North Sea. Many of the platforms out there are about to reach the time when they will have to be scrapped. This has to be done in a safe manner and the only way this can be done is on land. We cannot accept just toppling them at sea... The fact that the host of the Ministers' Conference raises this matter, that we support Greenpeace and others, and that we are supported by other countries, that will have to make an impact on those considering dumping, I think.... ."

Peter Sand Mortensen, Chair of the Fishermens Sector, International Transport Federation, ITF.

"It is quite simply a catastrophy. For the environment, for the fishermen , for all of us....if a permit is given now, what is to be expected for the 400+ other installations out here. Economic factors are working in favour of just leaving everything out there once profits have been gained....this involves one of the largest, Shell."

For Further Information contact Sue Cooper: 0171 359 9980 or Chris Rose 01595 694 099.

Date: Sat 14 May. Time: 17.11 GMT

SHELL ATTEMPT TO GAG THE PRESS AND GREENPEACE - SCOTTISH COURT UPHOLDS PRESS FREEDOM

In a legal attempt to end Greenpeace's 14 day old occupation of their North Sea oil installation, the Brent Spar, Shell asked the Scottish Courts to issue an order gagging the press.

Shell requested "an order in terms of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, Section 4(2) postponing the publication of any report relating to these proceedings for such period as the Court shall consider appropriate." Lord Kirkwood, the Scottish Judge, did not grant their request.

Shell did manage to obtain an interim interdict attempting to prevent the Greenpeace vessel Moby Dick from resupplying the Brent Spar occupiers with food and other essentials.

"Shell's tactics are secrecy and starvation. They are clearly trying to force the people off the Brent Spar," said Chris Rose, Greenpeace spokesperson.

"Shell are so ashamed of what they are doing that they sought to do it behind a veil of secrecy. Lord Kirkwood, in denying Shell's request, has recognised that the dumping of toxic oil platforms at sea is a matter of great public interest. He has decided that if Shell are to do any dirty business it must be done in public," said Rose.

The international group of activists on board Brent Spar are awaiting legal advice, together with copies of the court orders written in their respective languages.

Greenpeace is determined to draw attention to the dumping of toxic-laden platforms at sea.

For further information: Sue Cooper 0171 359 9980 or Chris Rose - 01595 694 099. For legal comment contact one of the above numbers.