Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists have climbed and documented a discarded oil tower owned by fossil fuel company Woodside Energy. 

Two climbers scaled Woodside’s Nganhurra Riser Turret Mooring, an 83 metre long, 2,452 tonne discarded piece of industrial infrastructure that Woodside has left in the ocean near biodiversity hotspots Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf.

They dropped a banner off the side of the tower reading: “Woodside, Don’t Be a Tosser.”

The riser turret mooring reportedly contains toxic fire retardant foam, and was recently found to be slowly sinking after Woodside failed to maintain it. 

Woodside has been ordered by the offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA to remove the structure but has so far failed to do so.

Greenpeace says it wants Woodside to urgently remove the structure from Western Australia’s waters and dispose of it safely on land.

“I’m appalled that Woodside shows such contempt for our oceans,” says Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter. 

“This toxic oil tower should have been disposed of safely years ago, but Woodside has shamefully left its industrial junk to decay in the ocean close to the globally famous treasures of Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf.

“Western Australia’s oceans are vital – to our environment, our climate and to Western Australian industries, such as fishing and tourism. Yet Woodside’s operations threaten the health of our oceans and the wildlife and communities that depend upon them.

“If Woodside won’t clean up the mess it’s already made in Western Australia’s oceans then it can’t be trusted not to make an even bigger mess drilling for new gas at the Burrup Hub.”