Troubled waters as Shell men storm the Spar

The first sign the retaking of the Brent Spar was under way was when a giant crane swung into action just after dawn yesterday.

A steel cage was hoisted across from a mobile diving platform stationed alongside the rig's helicopter landing deck. I watched as Greenpeace activists who had occupied the oil storage buoy for 23 days tried to swing the cage away, but it was too heavy and the crane operator too skillful.

As the cage touched down on the rig, 15 security staff, senior managers and police stormed out to confront the protesters. Shell's new manager of the Brent Spar, Diarmid McAllister Hall, read a statement to us explaining that he had an eviction order and would detain people on the structure. This statement was available in English and two other languages, for Greenpeace had about 20 activists from eight nations on board the 460ft tall Brent Spar.

But the plea fell on deaf ears. The protesters scattered, climbing up the rig's crane, handcuffing themselves to railings on the stairways and locking themselves behind doors. Others fled into the bowels of the giant structure which Shell plans to sink to the bed of the Atlantic.

With police officers looking on, boltcutters were used to release the chained protesters. They were then carried off the rig if they refused to walk.

It took Shell's men longer to get into the Brent Spar's barricaded control room, which Greenpeace had rigged up as a communications centre. One activist evaded capture for hours by hiding in a large fusebox.

Those captured were taken by crane on to the diving platform and detained in its gym. I was also held, along with another journalist and a German camera crew. Shell said it was using legislation which let managers of offshore oil installations hold those they regard as a threat to safety. The compensation for 11 hours' imprisonment in a crowded room 120 miles from land was two warm meals and the first hot shower in days. Last night, Shell began flying us back to Shetland by helicopter. As I reached daylight on the way to the helicopter I saw two activists still holding out, perched on the platforms above the Brent Spar's helideck.

Below them scurried Shell staff in hard hats, clearing away the banners and flags and the crude Greenpeace fortifications which proved ineffectual. However, Shell's struggle to reclaim the rig was not over. A few diehard Greenpeace activists remained locked inside the rig until late last night. The environmental group had refused to say how many protesters were still on the rig or where they were hiding.

Jon Castle, Greenpeace's "captain" on the rig was eventually caught late last night. The exit of Mr Castle, one of four activists on the rig since the protest began 23 days ago, signalled the end of the occupation.

Brent Spar falls, page 2