Greenpeace Irresponsibility Reaches New Heights

22 July 2002

Greenpeace Irresponsibility Reaches New Heights

British Nuclear Fuels today accused Greenpeace of recklessly endangering their own, and potentially other, lives with a protest in the Tasman Sea.

At 0830 today local time, two protestors threw themselves off an inflatable boat only 400 meters in front of one of the vessels involved in the shipment of MOX fuel from Japan to the United Kingdom, forcing the skipper to take evasive action.

"Despite this evasive action, the vessel passed within 70 meters of the protestors in the water - that is less than the length of the vessel," BNFL spokesman Mark Scott said.

"To throw themselves into the water in front of the vessel is the height of maritime lunacy, and does Greepeace no credit whatsoever. The whole situation is worsened by the fact that one of the protestors who jumped into the sea is a member of the New South Wales (Australia) Senate, Senator Ian Cohen - someone who should know better than to involve himself in such misguided actions.

"We have no objection to legitimate protest. This was not legitimate, and could have created a situation with grave consequences.

"Greenpeace and their crew members know that safety of life at sea is the paramount concern of any responsible seafarer, and they have deliberately flouted one of the most basic precepts of safety by causing a vessel to take an emergency evasive manoeuvre.

"They should be condemned for their stupidity," Mr Scott said.

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