Greenpeace has announced it is carrying out “peaceful protests” at Shell’s Brent field in the UK North Sea.
Activists from the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark are protesting on two platforms in the field, around 115 miles north-east of Shetland – brandishing signs of “Shell, clean up your mess”.
It comes as a special meeting of Ospar, an agreement between 15 governments to protect Europe’s marine environment, takes place in London on Friday.
Some countries have lodged objections to Shell’s plans to leave the legs of three of the platforms – Bravo, Charlie and Delta – in the sea, with concerns around the contents of oil storage cells within them deteriorating.
Activists reached the field via the Rainbow Warrior ship owned by Greenpeace International.
It is unclear how many climbers have taken to the platforms.
Joris Thijssen, director of Greenpeace Netherlands, said: “Shell’s plans are outrageous and go against international agreements to protect the sea.
“The 11,000 tons of oil that is still stored in the foundation of the platforms will sooner or later end up in the sea. That is unacceptable.
“The North Sea is not a garbage dump, Shell has to clean up its mess. Greenpeace urges all OSPAR governments to protect the sea and not to give in to the pressure of a major polluter Shell.”
Shell has been contacted for a comment.
