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Shell to Sea Fleet
Time:2009-03-02 20:38:40 Author:Inflatables
The Shell to Sea Fleet (Irish: Cabhlachán Shell chun Sáile) was the informal title of a collection of small water craft used during Shell to Sea protests against Royal Dutch Shell's Corrib gas project in northwest County Mayo during August and September 2008. The activists who manned the craft came from Mayo as well as Munster, Leinster, Wales, England and Germany.
The craft ranged in size from small inflatable dinghies to four-meter Rigid Inflatable boats, and also included rigid and inflatable kayaks, a sailing dinghy and a currach. The craft were mostly used to disrupt preparatory work for a pipeline intended to be laid by the Allseas ship Solitaire. It was intended that the ship laid pipe between the Corrib Field (80km to the west of County Mayo) and Glengad beach in Erris. The Solitaire and its supply ships were also visited by a section of the Fleet in Killybegs, informed of the background to the Corrib gas controversy, and asked not to work on the project.
Irish Navy ships deployed to assist the Garda Water Unit in policing the protests were also visited by the Fleet.
Most of the Fleet's activity took place around Glen gad beach, the intended landfall of the pipeline, where dredging and other work was being carried out. Activists were arrested during August and early September 2008, but none were charged
In mid-September, the Solitaire arrived in Broadhaven Bay. Some fishermen were arrested after approaching the ship in their fishing boats, but were also released without charge. After one night lying at anchor, its crane broke and it left for repairs. SEPIL has stated they intend to try laying the pipe again in the spring of 2009.


