From: Greenpeace vessel Altair tracking the Shell Brent Spar dumping flotilla
Date: SAT 17-JUN-95 13:43:50 GMT, Part I
Position of Spar as at 1200 hours - 60 25 North, 05 27 West. Distance travelled so far is 248 nautical miles. Average speed is 1.8 knots, present speed is 2.1 knots. Wind is southwesterly, force 4-5, sea swell is 2 metres. Heading is 240 degrees. Direction and distance from Esha Ness on Shetland is 276 degrees and 114 miles.
Earlier this morning the helicopter again approached the Spar and dropped four packages of supplies and equipment off to our two activists still occupying the Brent Spar oil platform. One of the protestors on board had to wait for the fire hoses being used by Shell vessels on them continually to be turned away before he was able to move them down inside the lower decks.
The Shell hoses were turned directly on the heli deck making movement impossible. They turned away when our ship the Altair moved closer to the Spar and the heli deck was left alone for a brief moment -- long enough for them to retrieve their supplies.
There are still two crew members from the Altair on board the Shell vessel Rembas. Radio contact was made from the Altair but a request to speak to them was refused. The Altair was told that the two had been allowed to make phone calls home.
One of the Shell tugs reported that it was unable to keep up the tow overnight, but any problems now seem to have been solved. They have had a number of problems since they set out last Sunday.
We hear that there has been massive press coverage in the UK today - and last night on TV lots of shots of the heli and water cannon were used. Protesters gathered at at least 100 Shell stations in the UK in 40 counties today. We are grateful for that news!
Finally, we have run out of the "DON'T DUMP THE SEA" flags. The last one (which was stuck to the window of the office here) was given to a crew member on one of the Shell rig maintenance vessels, the Kommander Subsea - the flag was flying on the vessel about an hour later! That's the kind of support we need!
More during our slow, and wet, journey!
The crew of the Altair
From: Greenpeace vessel Altair tracking the Shell Brent Spar dumping flotilla
Date: SAT 17-JUN-95 18:04:09 GMT, Part II
Position as at 6pm, 60 deg 16.8 north, 05 deg 42 West. Distance travelled is 263 n miles. Average speed is 1.9 knots, present speed is 2 knots. Weather - moderate to high swell, wind southwesterly beaufort scale 3, wave height 2.5 metres. Present heading is 240 deg. Position is 143 n miles west of Shetland.
The rig supply vessel, the Krombas, has now joined the Shell flotilla and is shadowing the Greenpeace vessel Altair. This is a similar ship to the Rembas and Torbas. Our helicopter made another flight and dropped more material on the Spar, then made a drop on the Altair too. When this happened the Krombas took considerable interest in the Altair and started shadowing it closely. Even when the Altair moved away from the Spar, and was at a distance of 2-3 n miles, the Krombas stayed with it and hosed it down. When asked what they were doing, the Krombas replied that they were practising with their fire equipment, they later said that they intended to restrict the visibility of the Altair.
That is all for now.... be back in touch tomorrow.
--The crew of the Altair