Crown Office will consider legal action against Shell over oil spill

SPECIALIST oil dispersant and containment vessels and aircraft are on full alert as oil giant Shell begins the delicate operation to finally stem the flow of oil spewing from a pipeline more than 300ft below the surface of the North Sea.

As “rock mattresses” – layers of concrete blocks – were lowered on to the seabed yesterday to help stabilise the pipeline at the centre of the spill, conservation groups called for Shell to be held to account in the courts for any alleged failings in their pipeline maintenance and integrity procedures.

Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, said a full report on the investigation into the leak – the worst in British waters for a decade – would be sent to the Crown Office for possible court action.

Stan Blackley, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “If Shell is found guilty of any wrongdoing, then it should feel the full weight of the law.

“The levying of a fine or requirement to pay compensation will be shrugged off by such a massive, rich company.

“Fining Shell is not going to make it change its ways. Those running that business need to be held accountable for their failings and, if found guilty of any breach of the law, prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

RSPB Scotland called for a “full and open investigation” into the spill from the Gannet platform pipeline system to determine whether there were any shortcomings in industry standards and procedures.

Stuart Housden, the charity’s Scottish director, said: “We need to ensure that the forthcoming inquiry is open and transparent.

“We need to know what happened, why, and if those responsible will be held accountable. But the inquiry must be broad enough to cover the preparedness and investment needed by government and industry to prevent future occurrences.

“Without this information, the Scottish and UK governments cannot ensure that the appropriate regulatory framework is in place to protect our internationally important seabird populations, and the marine environment on which wildlife and many industries depend.”

The investigation into the spill is being carried out by the UK government’s Health and Safety Executive and specialists from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

But Mr Housden said other public bodies and organisations with a valid interest in the spill should be consulted and allowed to raise legitimate concerns.

He added: “The subsea infrastructure involved in this incident is several years old and like any piece of machinery it is likely to exhibit wear and tear in a demanding environment.”

The pipeline, which could still hold up to 660 tonnes of oil, has risen about 4ft above the seabed on some stretches as a result of the system being depressurised after the discovery of the leak last Wednesday.

Shell was given the go-ahead yesterday to begin pinning down the pipeline with rock mattresses” – a procedure the company described as a “standard industry practice”.

However, it has still to be given the green light to begin the potentially hazardous operation to use divers to close the valve still leaking oil into the sea.

Mr Shaw, whose duty is to ensure any plans to deal with the spill are in the best interests of the UK, says he will not approve the operation until he is satisfied that the use of divers will not lead to a potentially catastrophic and uncontrolled release of the estimated 3,600 barrels of oil still trapped in the pipeline.