Greenpeace Protesters Board Shell Oil-Drilling Ship to Fight for The Arctic

New Zealand police have now boarded the Shell oil-drilling ship that has been occupied by 7 Greenpeace protesters and activists, including television star Lucy Lawless who played Xena: Warrior Princess.

The Noble Discoverer was boarded by protesters yesterday morning at Port Taranaki in New Plymouth. Activists ascended its 53m drilling tower, and have equipped themselves with enough survival gear and supplies to last for several days. They have also hung banners from the vessel reading “Stop Shell” and “Save the Arctic”. Lawless, a long-time environmental campaigner, stated that the group would stand firm, despite the arrival of authorities.

New Plymouth police officials reported five of their officers climbing the drilling tower in an effort to make contact with the Greenpeace group. The Shell-contracted ship was scheduled to leave for Alaska to drill three to five exploratory oil wells in the Chukchi Sea, according to Greenpeace records. Shell representatives state that all operations onboard have currently been forced to a stop.

The port has remained open, with restricted access. Most concerns are in regards to the rush of companies trying to drill in the Arctic and the potential for catastrophic spills in the ecologically sensitive region, and to also draw attention to climate change.