Protesters prepared to stay
Thirty protesters who stormed aboard an offshore supply vessel at PrimePort Timaru yesterday morning say they are going nowhere.
Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Amanda Larsson said both police and the port’s security personnel had been on board the Skandi Atlantic and had instructed protesters to leave the vessel.
‘‘The protesters have been trespassed from the ship by the ship’s captain, however they are staying on board.
‘‘We plan to occupy the vessel for as along as possible. The protesters have came prepared with sleeping bags, food, warm clothes and even some tents set up on the back deck so they’re ready to stay for a long time,’’ Larsson said.
Greenpeace was joined in the ship’s occupation by campaign groups Extinction Rebellion, Oil
Free Otago and 350 Aotearoa.
By mid-morning yesterday, a flag saying ‘‘people vs oil’’ which was unfurled by climbing protesters at the top of the mast could be seen flapping about in the wind at the highest point of the ship.
Austrian company OMV was about to begin drilling three oil wells at a 34,000-tonne oil rig off the coast of Taranaki, followed by one in the Great South Basin off the Otago coast where it will undertake the riskiest kind of oil drilling, she said.
The people in the region needed to be made aware of the risk to their beaches and wildlife through drilling off their coast.
‘‘OMV is intending to drill off the east coast of the South Island. Not only is that risky deep sea oil drilling that could affect wildlife and your beaches with spills, but it is also oil we cannot afford to burn because we are in a climate emergency.’’
PrimePort Timaru chief executive Phil Melhopt confirmed the protesters had been issued trespass orders by police.
He said the protesters had ‘‘illegally’’ occupied the vessel.
‘‘The Greenpeace protesters have been told they are trespassing and have been asked to leave.
‘‘The police have been there and spoken to them, and the people on the mast were given trespass orders by the police.’’
According to Greenpeace, the Skandi Atlantic was bound for Austrian oil giant OMV’s oil rig off the Taranaki coast at dawn on Sunday.
‘‘By occupying OMV’s henchboat, we’re delaying the monster rig from drilling for new oil in the middle of a climate emergency,’’ Larsen said.
‘‘OMV’s oil rig is almost 50 nautical miles off the Taranaki
Coast. Its remote location means it’s nearly impossible for ordinary New Zealanders to take peaceful action to confront it directly.
‘‘We’ve brought the resistance here to disrupt its chain of support. We won’t let this rig carry out its climate-destroying activities quietly, out of sight and mind.’’
Larsson said OMV could expect continued resistance from people all over the country while it was operating in New Zealand.
‘‘People are over it. We’re over companies being allowed to search for new oil to burn in the middle of a climate emergency, threatening the lives of millions of people. At every turn, OMV can expect us to be all over them,’’ Larsen said.
Kingston Offshore Services, the New Zealand agent of the
Skandi Atlantic, has been contacted.
Last month a spokesperson of the company said two offshore supply vessels were berthed at Timaru awaiting their next job.
But he wasn’t prepared to divulge exactly what that job might be.
‘‘It is all a bit sensitive at the moment.
‘‘They’re just sitting there laid up until their next contract. I don’t really have anything to offer at this time,’’ he said.
A police spokesperson said police were called to the protest at the port about 6am.
‘‘The role of police is to ensure safety and uphold the law, while recognising the lawful right to protest.
‘‘Police will respond appropriately to any issues that arise,’’ the said.