The fact that we have not seen a single oil tanker in four says is quite puzzling. We do know that the average traffic is one tanker every day and that traffic is steadily increasing. And considering the current oil situation in the world the traffic of oil out of Murmansk should be quite high. Not the opposite. We have many theories about this, but I believe that Greenpeace is a part of the reason that we haven't found any oil tankers on the 12 nautical mile limit.

In April we had several actions against oil tankers outside the coast of Lofoten. We called them up on the radio and explained the vulnerability of the coast and the critical lack of preparedness if an accident should occur. The result was that all the tankers we met and spoke to sailed quietly out to a safer distance from the coast. And I believe that since it was that easy - just calling them up and ask nicely if they please would sail further out - the coastguard has started doing the same.

I hope that every single tanker that enters Norwegian waters get a pleasant phone call from the coastguard and then, after being explained the situation with the lack of oil spill preparedness and the vulnerable coast, they are asked to , please, sail further from the shore. And the reason why we haven't met any tankers on the 12 nautical mile limit might be because they are sailing further out.

So the lack of oil tankers could be because of a small campaign victory for Greenpeace.

- Martin