Vanessa Atkinson is a Greenpeace NZ Climate Campaigner. She has been on board the Stop Deep Sea Oil Flotilla every day that it has been at sea off the East Cape. This is her account of one of her days on board – Friday April 22
Another day out on the water with the Stop Deep Sea Oil Flotilla….. we were greeted at sunrise this morning to the sight of the flotilla congregating once again off the East Cape.
Predicting where the seismic survey ship the Orient Explorer is going to be and getting ourselves in the best position to meet her is quite a logistical challenge, particularly as we are in sailing vessels, and so are more limited by wind and weather. That meant that last night we were on a course that was conducive to finding the seismic surveyor, but not for sleeping, as we were thrown around by the seas.
A further series of calamities beset us as the morning unfolded. For a disturbingly long period of time it looked like our stove was busted and we were not going to be able to have any coffee! After a tense hour the issue was resolved and caffeine flowed once again. But then another disaster! We were out of tea, and so were our fellow flotilla members.
Just at this moment things started to get really interesting. We had found our target and her new naval escort, the HMNZS Taupo. They hailed us on VHF and requested that we keep a safe distance and asked for an acknowledgement of their message. We acknowledged their message and asked that they acknowledge that we were here to continue our peaceful protest, which they did.
After the formalities were over they indicated that they wanted to come over and speak to us again. Our fast thinking captain Avon explained that we’d run out of tea that morning and asked if they would mind bringing some over when they popped in for a visit.
So this time when the inflatable filled with police officers with their black helmets and visors on pulled up next to Windborne, they were packing more than just legal documents, but also some excellent Ceylon blend.
But then down to the serious business of the day. They had arrived to tell us that the previous legal notice that they had issued to us on April 12 under the Maritime Transport Act was withdrawn. The senior sergeant explained that their concern was about safety and that despite the withdrawal of the notice the police still had powers to act. He even cited the Land Transport Act, though it is difficult to see how this might apply 40 nautical miles offshore, with no land to be seen in any direction.
I still find the sight of a New Zealand naval vessel escorting an oil vessel representing foreign interests a strange and disturbing sight. But neither the presence of the Navy, the Airforce, nor the Police, will deter us. The anniversary of the BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster was a timely reminder of exactly what we stand to lose here in New Zealand, and we remain committed to expressing our opposition to deep sea oil drilling. Even if we have to do it without tea or coffee.