SIX GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ARRESTED ATTEMPTING TO STOP OIL EXPLORATION AS CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS START IN BONN

2 June 1998

London -- At 0918 hours BST today (2nd June 1998), a UK Greenpeace activist was one of six arrested by Norwegian coastguards as they attempted to occupy the oil exploration and drilling platform 'Ocean Alliance' in the Atlantic Frontier for the second time in 48 hours.

Six Norwegian coastguard personnel and a police officer then boarded the Greenpeace vessel, SV Stahlratte, at midday and took control of the vessel and its crew, despite the fact that it was in international waters. The vessel is now under their control and has been forced to sail back to Kristiansund in Norway. A police officer and 3 coastguards have remained on board.

Two Greenpeace inflatables were launched from the SV Stahlratte this morning, despite earlier threats from the coastguard ship to use force if the activists crossed the platform's 500-metre exclusion zone. The coastguard pursued the activists and intercepted them moments before they attempted to board the 'Ocean Alliance' as part of a continued operation to stop oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier. The 'Ocean Alliance' is operating on behalf of Shell and the Norwegian State-owned company Statoil and is drilling in the Nordic sector of the Frontier.

The burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, is a major cause of climate change. Greenpeace has calculated that the world cannot afford to burn more than a quarter of known fossil fuel reserves if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. However, the oil industry continues to explore for yet more reserves.

Greenpeace climate campaigner, Robbie Kelman, said: "This is part of the first Greenpeace offshore direct action to halt oil exploration in the Nordic sector of the Atlantic Frontier. Greenpeace will be operating across the Frontier in an attempt to stop oil developments."

Kelman added: "Statoil and Shell are aware of our concerns about their massive exploration for yet more oil. They should be redirecting their investments towards sustainable, renewable energy sources, not continuing to search for new oil that the world cannot afford to burn. We will continue to do whatever we can to prevent them from this senseless pursuit of yet more oil."

At 12.00 BST, the Danish Greenpeace activist who was detained after boarding the 'Ocean Alliance' on Sunday, will appear in court in Kristiansund, Norway to be charged.

The Atlantic Frontier extends from Southern Ireland, passes the West coast of Scotland and goes up to Northern Norway. The Greenpeace climate protection campaign aims to stop exploration for new oil in frontier areas across the globe, including the Atlantic and Arctic.

Last year, Greenpeace was active in the UK sector of the Atlantic Frontier, preventing ships from carrying out seismic testing, the first phase of oil exploration. They ultimately occupied the Stenna Dee oil platform, which was trying to bring the Foinaven oil development on line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Greenpeace UK press office 0171-865 8255/6/7/8

Greenpeace today warned of further evidence of the impacts of climate change as the Greenpeace Arctic expedition documented North American glaciers retreating and thinning significantly following increases in regional temperature. The warning came as international climate protocol negotiations begin in Bonn.

From all its operations, Statoil produces around 2 million barrels of oil equivalent (includes oil and gas) per day, approximately the same quantity of oil produced from the entire UK sector of the North Sea.

Statoil's commitment to the development of renewable energy sources is virtually non existent. The company spends around $US 700 million a year on oil exploration compared with $US 300,000 on renewable energy schemes.

Footage and stills are available on request. Map of the area is available on request