INTERCARGO WARNS GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ABOUT DANGERS

INTERCARGO WARNS GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ABOUT DANGERS    The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners warned that actions taken by Greenpeace activists who attach themselves to ships to protest against the shipment of environmentally sensitive cargoes could result in casualties or pollution accidents.
   The association of shipowners urged Greenpeace to “review their policy of protest and immediately stop their actions targeted against commercial shipping.”
   “Hardly a month goes by without another report of a ship being endangered by activists,” Intercargo in a statement. “How long will it be before there is a major maritime incident involving a ship as a direct result of the action of environmental activists?”
   Intercargo’s secretary general Roger Holt said that usually the action takes the form of one or more persons attaching themselves to the ship whilst it is under way, with one or more small craft hindering safe passage. Once prevented from berthing, the ship is then usually sent to an anchorage by the port authorities where the activists continue their protest by attaching themselves to the anchor cable.
   “This action effectively prevents the master from safely handling the ship should the need arise to work the anchor cable for any reason,” Intercargo said. It warned that the lives of the officers and crew on board are also put at risk by Greenpeace’s action, not to mention the risk to ship and cargo.
   “There is the ever present danger of injury and worse to the activists and the probability is that a master will soon be held liable for manslaughter,” Holt said. Intercargo also mentioned the possibility of environmental pollution as a result of collision or grounding, with the attendant spillage of bunker fuel oil.
   Intercargo added that it has no quarrel with Greenpeace or any other organization working to protect the environment.
   “Greenpeace justify their actions by stating that shipping is part of the supply chain and therefore can be legitimately targeted,” Intercargo said. But protest actions should be directed at governments and the suppliers and receivers of cargoes ashore — not at the shipowners, the shipowners’ association said.