In response to Greenpeace activists boarding its oil production vessel while in transit at sea earlier this year, Shell has filed a lawsuit against the environmental organization, seeking damages of $2.1 million. The claim, brought before London's High Court, represents one of the largest legal threats in Greenpeace's more than 50-year history, according to the organization.

The incident occurred in January when Greenpeace activists boarded the vessel near the Canary Islands and traveled with it to Norway, protesting Shell's oil drilling activities. Shell has emphasized that boarding a moving vessel at sea is not only unlawful but also extremely hazardous, highlighting the need for protests to be conducted safely and within the bounds of the law.

The damages being pursued by Shell encompass various costs associated with shipping delays, additional security expenses, and legal fees, as indicated in a document seen by Reuters. While Shell reportedly offered to reduce its claim to $1.4 million on the condition that Greenpeace refrains from protesting at any of its oil and gas infrastructure, Greenpeace has insisted that this can only happen if Shell complies with a 2021 Dutch court order to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, a decision currently under appeal by Shell.

Negotiations between Shell and Greenpeace took place subsequent to the lawsuit being filed, but discussions concluded in early November without resolution. Greenpeace now awaits further filings from Shell in court and plans to evaluate its next course of action, including measures to halt the progress of the case. Meanwhile, an additional claim of approximately $6.5 million by one of Shell's contractors, Fluor, remains unresolved, with no immediate response from Fluor regarding the matter.