Posted online: Sep 10th, 2008

Shell statment – WEDNESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2008
This morning during weather sensitive preparatory works for the laying of the offshore Corrib gas pipeline, the end section of the Solitaire’s pipe delivery equipment was damaged
At this stage it is too early to comment on how this technical problem arose. The offshore pipelay programme in Broadhaven Bay has been suspended until a full assessment of the damaged equipment has been conducted.
The Solitaire will return to Killybegs or another harbour for assessment and repair within the next 48 hours..
A further update will be given in the coming days.

Shell ship sails away
By Paddy Clancy
editorial@donegalpost.com
Solitaire, the world’s largest pipe-laying ship, slipped away from Killybegs yesterday after almost two months anchored off Co. Donegal.
A plan by Shell to Sea campaigners who threatened to blockade Killybegs Harbour in a bid to prevent the ship reaching the Corrib gas field was foiled as it sailed away without any fuss exactly 24 hours after protestors tried to board it on Monday.
Five men in four kayaks – named James Connolly, Jim Larkin, Bobby Sands and Geronimo – paddled from shore to the 400 metre ship.
Security guards prevented them initially from boarding the ship but eventually three protestors with an Irish tricolour climbed a ladder to hand over a letter for delivery to skipper Simon Van Der Plicht.
The letter asked him to reconsider his ship’s planned participation in the Corrib gas development off Mayo
Campaigners have vowed to prevent the Solitaire from carrying out pipeline work in Broadhaven Bay. One protestor, John O Connell, said: “Resistance to the Corrib gas project will continue. We will blockade both Killybegs Harbour and Broadhaven Bay to stop vessels involved in the work.”
Yesterday, after the Solitaire sailed without hindrance, a spokesman for the protestors admitted they hadn’t expected it to move in such bad weather since Shell had claimed the incolement weather kept it at anchor for mamny weeks.
A Shell spokesman told the Donegal Post that the Solitaire was due to arrive in Broadhaven later last night. He said: “It will start pipe-laying in the coming days.”
The ship will anchor about 1.5 kms offshore while pipes welded on board will be winched ashore for construction of the start of an 83-kilometres underwater pipeline from Glengad in Broadhaven Bay to the Corrib Gas Field.
The development has delighted community leaders in jobs-starved Killybegs but it has infuriated environmental activists campaigning against the project.
When the underwater pipe-laying operation is fully under way, the Solitaire will have a crew of up to 550 on board and 15 support vessels which will be serviced by existing marine-related services from the new pier at Killybegs.