A group of Greenpeace activists in Germany painted a protest sign on the side of general cargo ship Emma Oldendorff (IMO 9676606) as part of the environmental group’s efforts to bring about a halt in offshore drilling and gas production.
The vessel was preparing to load a cargo of pipe bound for Western Australia as part of a new offshore LNG development being undertaken by energy company Woodside.
Greenpeace said that 20 of its activists boarded four inflatable boats in the port of Brake, not far from Bremerhaven. They came alongside the 39,300 dwt cargo ship, which has been docked in Germany since the end of last week. The pipe order was part of an order for 300,000 tons from Europipe to be used for the development of the Scarborough field, which is located about 230 miles off the coast of Western Australia.
Greenpeace said that two of the small boats made their way to the side of the vessel painting messages on the hull. One read “No New Gas” and the other was “#RWE xIt,” a reference calling on the German energy company to stop its involvement in the project.
The small boats’ occupants also unfurled banners reading “The Sea is not an Industrial Area.”
The other small boats were able to reach the dock and activists climbed up onto the pier and sat on the pipes in an attempt to prevent their loading onto the vessel.
The companies said that the demonstration did not disrupt their plans. The Emma Oldendorff continued to load in Germany and is still due to reach Kabil, Indonesia on September 12th.
2014-built, Portugal-flagged, 25,431 gt Emma Oldendorff is owned and managed by Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co of Lübeck, Germany. It is entered with UK Club on behalf of Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co.
