Greenpeace occupied it in 1995. Soon, a broad public in Europe opposed plans by Shell to sink its redundant oil installation in the North Sea. So began the consultation process which led inexorably to Shell's announcement in January 1998 of plans for the onshore disposal of Brent Spar.

That process took three years. In as much as they paved the way for the historic OSPAR regulation which bans unequivocally the dumping at sea of decommissioned oil and gas installations, those years were well spent.

The new horizon
In agreeing the OSPAR ban proposed by Greenpeace, environment ministers representing nations bordering the north-east Atlantic ruled that the oceans should not be used as a dumping ground for waste. The only possible exemption concerns some 40 existing 'stumps' or footings which may be considered for disposal at sea provided industry demonstrates successfully it has no other option. The OSPAR regulation marks a victory for the environment. It also represents an economic victory which ushers in new business opportunities and new jobs in onshore dismantling.

"Shell has concluded that. . . re-use is the best practicable environmental option for the Brent Spar"
Shell press release, January 1998

Brent Spar: chronology of a campaign
1994 Dec Greenpeace No Grounds for Dumping report submitted to UK Department of Trade and Industry

1995 Feb DTI announces UK government decision to dump Brent Spar at sea April Greenpeace occupies Brent Spar May Denmark, Sweden and Iceland join UK opposition parties in condemning licence to dump; Shell removes activists June Greenpeace issues leaflets at petrol stations in Germany; North Sea environment ministers, with reservations from the UK and Norway, recommend land decommissioning; Brent Spar towed towards deep sea dump site; German petrol stations report 50 per cent drop in takings; two further Greenpeace activists occupy Brent Spar by helicopter; Greenpeace incorrectly values Brent Spar oil residues at 5,000 tonnes; Shell reverses decision to dump Brent Spar and tows platform to Erfjord, Norway; OSPAR commission, with reservations from UK and Norway, agrees moratorium on dumping at sea Nov UK licence for deep sea dumping of Brent Spar expires.

1996 Aug Shell announces receipt of 30 proposals from 19 contractors for disposal of Brent Spar Dec OSPAR negotiations pave the way for ministerial conference

1997 May OSPAR conference postponed until 1998 June Shell announces official bids from six contractors outlining nine disposal options; Oct Det Norske Veritas report confirms dumping at sea as worst environmental option Dec Energy Minister John Battle tells Greenpeace that government approach will now be based on 'presumption in favour of land disposal'

1998 Jan Norwegian government announces readiness to see Brent Spar dismantled in Norway; European Commission announces funding of Greenpeace Beyond Sparring project which pursues sustainable decommissioning of oil and gas installations; Shell announces plans for land disposal of Brent Spar July OSPAR ministers agree permanent ban on dumping in the north-east Atlantic

OSPAR: what's in a name?
The OSPAR commission is the intergovernmental body which regulates marine pollution in the north-east Atlantic from Gibraltar to the Arctic. In July 1998, the commission adopted Greenpeace proposals to ban the dumping of decommissioned offshore installations at sea.