MARITIME EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE REPORTS THE LATEST ON GREEN PEACE

FROM THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE

November 20, 2013

Russian Court Grants Bail to Captain of Greenpeace Ship

BY MAREX

PHOTO: U.S. Coast Guard;   RUSSIAN BORDER GUARD SHIP SIMILAR TO THE VESSEL THAT RESPONDED TO THE GREENPEACE BOARDING Of A RUSSIAN OIL RIG

EDITOR'S NOTE: We consider the MARITIME EXECUTIVE a reliable news source and link to them in our NEWS SERVICE SECTION. Previously we brought you the story of a Greenpeace vessel that violated Russian OCS waters after having been refused permission to enter. The vessel then shadowed and harassed vessels involved in off shore drilling and finally sent a 30 person boarding team aboard an offshore rig without permission. The boarding team was promptly arrested by the Russian border guards and charged with Piracy. We explained how the Greenpeace action actually met the definition of piracy under Russian law and why the charge was a bit stern but not unwarranted. We explained that in Russia a charge of piracy is not a capital offense. As time wore on we carried the news of the Russian court reducing the charges to "Hooliganism". Today we turn to the Maritime executive to give you the details of how 15 Greenpeace crew members are now out on bail. As our regular readers know we are not fans of Russia ("The Bear") but neither are we fans of Greenpeace since we can not understand how practices that endanger vessels are supposed to enhance the marine environment. We stand by our original assessment that Russia has been handling this incident with a very even hand. The Charges are appropriate. The slow movement towards bail not unexpected when charges against foreign nationals are involved, Russia has every right to be concerned with flight risk. We don't think the well meaning but foolish Greenpeace protesters ought to draw any draconian sentence but their behavior has to be sanctioned against. One day their very tactics will cause a pollution incident, or get someone killed or both.  We'll defer to the MARINE EXECUTIVE for today's story.

A Russian court granted bail on Wednesday to the American captain of a Greenpeace ship that was used in a protest against Arctic oil drilling in which 30 people were detained.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE:

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/Russian-Court-Grants-Bail-to-Captain-of-Greenpeace-Ship-2013-11-20/

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November 19, 2013

Another Greenpeace Controversy: Vessel

 Refuses to Leave Anadarko Drilling Site

BY MAREX

NOAA PHOTO 1991

EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on our sources we believe that the Greenpeace vessel on scene off of New Zealand is actually a sailing vessel not the vessel depicted above. However we were not able to find a licensed or public domain image of the vessel. We actually approve of the tactic being used by Greenpeace in this instance assuming they stick to it and do not board any other vessel without permission and abide by New Zealand's marine safety laws. In this instance Greenpeace is lingering just outside the exclusion zone that New Zealand law establishes around drilling activity and attempting to secure an invitation to board a drilling facility with a banner prepared by school children. This tactic if not abandoned is political theater at its best. If the oil drilling contractor snubs Greenpeace they insult children. If they accept the banner they certainly won't stop drilling, but you can believe they will be extra careful. The whole thing gets lots of media attention either way. If Greenpeace on scene doesn't drift off into their more typical ways this will be an effective protest.  Again we link you to the MARITIME EXECUTIVE for the full story.

Just hours after six Greenpeace activists were released on bail by Russia, a small vessel - part of the Oil Free Seas Flotilla - is refusing to move from the site where Texan oil giant Anadarko intends to drill off New Zealand.

Anadarko is due to start drilling at a depth of 1500 meters later this month, using the drill ship Noble Bob Douglas. They intend to drill a second exploratory well at 1100 off the Otago coast early next year (2014).

READ THE ENTIRE STORY IN THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE:

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/Another-Greenpeace-Controversy-Vessel-Refuses-to-Leave-Anadarko-Drilling-Site-2013-11-19/