Police Scotland are “poised” to move in to remove protestors from an occupied BP-contracted rig in the Cromarty Firth, according to Greenpeace.
The climate activist group claim that police have informed them that they intend to halt the five-day standoff by lowering the Trancoaen-owned rig 20 meters into the sea and access it by boat.
Transocean had served the environmental activists on board the Paul B Loyd Jr rig with an interdict on Tuesday, the Scottish law equivalent of an injunction.
Greenpeace claim the two protestors on board have lowered themselves onto a ledge in an attempt to thwart the removal efforts.
Rosie Rogers, senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “We are determined to resist removal as long as BP remains determined to drill for oil.
“BP’s plans are completely and unacceptably at odds with the climate emergency we are facing.
“If they put half as much effort into investing in renewables as they appear to be putting into removing us from their rig, the world would be looking like a much better place right now.”
The rig – owned by Transocean and operated by BP – was making its way to the Vorlich field in the North Sea.
BP has estimated the drilling of new wells there could give them access to 30 million barrels of oil.
Two Greenpeace campaigners faced court yesterday accused of tethering themselves to an oil rig in an ongoing demonstration.
Protesters have occupied the BP-contracted Paul B Lloyd Jr rig in the Cromarty Firth since Sunday.
And as two people appeared in court in connection with the stand-off, lifeboat crews were scrambled to the scene amid safety fears yesterday.
Invergordon RNLI launched after reports protesters were in a “precarious position” and may not have life jackets on.
It was later stood down after the pair moved to a safer part of the platform.
Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
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