Interfax reported that Work on the maritime drilling rig Prirazlomnaya at the Arctic deposit Prirazlomnoye is proceeding according to schedule, despite the fact that Greenpeace activists have attached themselves to the giant platform's superstructure.

The Gazprom press service said "Today Greenpeace representatives violated the 500-meter navigation safety zone around the maritime platform Prirazlomnaya and with the help of mountain-climbing equipment got on board. It was suggested to them that they come up onto the platform for a constructive dialog. But they refused, saying that they would 'be hanging onto the platform.'"

The general subcontractor for building the platform is Sevmash which is currently doing quality-assurance testing on it and is responsible for its safety and security. A Sevmash representative told Interfax that "the situation is under control."

The source Interfax said that "Border authorities [coast guard] are watching over it. There is security on the platform that will take the appropriate measures in the event of attempts to get on the platform. The security of the facility is under no threat now."

The representative said "Sevmash is concerned about the health of the activists, who are on the facility in not the warmest time."

A 500-meter navigation safety zone is established around artificial islands', installations and facilities as stipulated by Russian continental-shelf law.

Greenpeace said in a statement that "This morning at 4 am local time, a team of Greenpeace International activists including Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo climbed the energy giant Gazprom's Arctic oil platform Prirazlomnaya off the northeastern coast of Russia in the Pechora Sea, interrupting its operations."

Greenpeace notes that in the environmental impact assessment documentation for the platform it says that the likelihood of a terrorist threat is extremely low as the rig is far from infrastructure.

Source - Interfax

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