Greenpeace Nordic intercepts Shell icebreaker to in attempt to thwart Arctic drilling
Greenpeace Nordic activists have intercepted at open sea and boarded a Shell-contracted icebreaker, the Nordica, to continue its protest against the oil major’s destructive plans to start drilling in the pristine Arctic region.
Six activists from five different countries boarded the Nordica in Swedish waters south of Öland, scaled the ship and locked themselves down throughout the ship. They are demanding that Shell abandons its controversial plans to drill in the Arctic.
“Shell’s reckless plans to start drilling for oil in the Arctic pose an unacceptable threat to a unique place on earth,” said Greenpeace Nordic Arctic campaigner eco-toxicologist Therese Jacobson. “We are standing at a crossroads. A choice needs to be made to protect the Arctic or allow Shell and other oil greedy companies to destroy this precious region. The choice is clear, we must save the Arctic.”
The Nordica is heading to Alaska to join its sister ship, the Fennica, to support the Kulluk and Noble Discoverer, the two drillships that are en route to the north coast of Alaska to drill five exploratory wells for Shell in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, respectively. While the Arctic is already under immense pressure from climate change and pollution, Shell is the first major international oil company to make drilling in the region a serious corporate focus.