In keeping with our country’s long tradition of peaceful protest at sea, the Oil Free Seas flotilla will confront Cayman Islands company Anadarko’s Liberian registered oil drilling ship over 100 nautical miles out from Raglan off the Waikato west coast of New Zealand in the coming weeks.
The flotilla will set sail starting today Friday 8th November 2013 from Auckland, Wellington, Kaikoura, Bay of Islands and Bluff, and will head to the drilling site, which is 110 nautical miles west of Raglan.
Cayman Islands oil company Anadarko is due to start drilling around the middle to the end of November, using the previously untested Liberian registered drillship the Noble Bob Douglas.
The flotilla, made up of 7 boats, is a loose association of individuals and boat owners who oppose deep-sea drilling and the new legislation that takes away New Zealander’s long-standing right to peacefully protest at sea. One of the boats taking part, the Vega, also sailed against French nuclear tests in the Pacific.
“We love New Zealand, and this country is what it is because kiwis have stood up for what we believe in. I was on board the SV Vega protesting against French nuclear testing in the Pacific in the 70’s. Nuclear testing in the Pacific wasn’t right and deep-sea oil drilling in the Tasman is not right either. We will not be bullied into submission by big oil or dubious laws,” said Anna Horne of Oil Free Seas Flotilla.
Earlier this year, the Government announced a new law to ban aspects of protesting at sea. Now known as the ‘Anadarko Amendment’, it states ‘that it is illegal to interfere with any structure or ship that is in an offshore area that is to be used in mining activities, with an exclusion zone of 500 metres.’
“By being there we are saying to Anadarko that they are not welcome here doing this kind of activity. This law suits the suits, but not the environment and the wishes of the people of New Zealand” said Anna Horne.
The Oil Free Seas flotilla will depart from ports around New Zealand from Friday 8th November.
The launch events are as follows and we would like to invite all New Zealanders to grab a banner and come along.
- Friday 8th at 2:00pm from Bluff (City Wharf)
- Monday 11th at 12 noon from both Auckland (Princess Wharf) and Kaikoura (Fisherman’s Wharf)
- Tuesday 12th at 12 noon from the Bay of Islands (Opua)
- Thursday 14th at 10:00am from Wellington (Queens Wharf)
For more information check out http://oilfreeseasflotilla.org.nz/