Oil & Gas Company Shell Settles Lawsuit Against Greenpeace Over Protest Against North Sea Oil Drilling

Shell has settled its lawsuit against Greenpeace after a year-long legal battle. The lawsuit was filed following a peaceful protest by Greenpeace activists who boarded a Shell-contracted ship in the North Sea in January 2023.

Six Greenpeace activists boarded the White Marlin, a Shell-contracted ship, in the Atlantic Ocean near the Canary Islands.

The ship was carrying equipment for drilling oil in the North Sea. Greenpeace activists reached the ship by inflatable boats and climbed aboard. Shell later claimed the activists damaged a padlock, but no other major damage was reported.

Despite the minor damage, Shell sued Greenpeace for $1 million in damages, claiming it had incurred costs related to safety and security. Shell also planned to spend an additional $10 million on legal fees, which Greenpeace could have been forced to pay if they lost the case.

Shell’s real motive for the lawsuit became clearer during early negotiations, where the company offered to withdraw the case if Greenpeace agreed to stop protesting against Shell’s rigs forever.

Greenpeace saw this as a bullying tactic designed to silence them. This lawsuit was described as a “SLAPP” suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), a legal move intended to intimidate critics.

After a year of campaigning, Greenpeace turned the legal battle into a PR disaster for Shell. Celebrities like Joe Lycett, Stephen Fry, and Emma Thompson supported Greenpeace, making the lawsuit a public embarrassment for Shell.

The case was even dubbed the “Cousin Greg” lawsuit by Forbes, referring to a scene from the popular TV show Succession, where a character threatens to sue Greenpeace.

The case has now been settled out of court. As part of the agreement, Greenpeace will donate £300,000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity that runs search and rescue services at sea.

Greenpeace has also agreed not to protest at four of Shell’s oil fields in the North Sea for specific periods: five years at three sites and ten years at a fourth. These oil fields are mostly declining, and Greenpeace had no immediate plans to protest there.

Greenpeace has made it clear that no donations from supporters will go to Shell. Instead, the funds will be used to continue campaigns against the fossil fuel industry.

Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said that Shell’s attempt to intimidate Greenpeace failed. She added that the public backlash made Shell back down and settle the case, stating that the settlement showed the power of public support and allowed Greenpeace to continue its fight against big oil companies.

Shell, however, defended its legal action. A Shell spokesperson said that the lawsuit was never about stopping protests but about the safety risks posed by the activists’ actions.

They stated that a judge had described the boarding as putting the lives of the activists and the crew at risk. Shell reiterated that Greenpeace could still protest from a safe distance without infringing on their rights.

While the lawsuit is over, Greenpeace continues to campaign against Shell and other fossil fuel companies. Greenpeace faces other legal battles, including a lawsuit in North Dakota for over $300 million, which could threaten its operations in the US.

However, Greenpeace remains committed to its mission of fighting for the environment and holding the fossil fuel industry accountable.

References: Greenpeace, Reuters

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