Penzance Synchro Swimmers Join National Protest Against Rosebank Oil Field

Abbey Basin Protest Joins Nationwide Day of Action

Penzance’s eco-synchro swim team made waves at Penzance Harbour on 6th September as part of a coordinated national protest calling on the government to reject Rosebank, the UK’s largest untapped oil field.

At 4pm in Abbey Basin, the Out of Sink swimmers performed alongside actions taking place in cities including Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. Campaigners across the country aimed to send one clear message to Prime Minister Keir Starmer: pull the plug on Rosebank for good.

Voices from the Water

Explaining why she joined the action, Pippa Best said:
“We’re really passionate about protecting the planet, and especially the ocean that we love and swim in. New oil and gas is damaging all of that. As well as producing more CO2 than the annual emissions of the world’s 28 lowest-income countries combined, the Rosebank pipeline would destroy a protected area of the North Sea. Home to whales and dolphins, and full of ancient clams, delicate corals, and rare deep sea sponges.”

Bec Applebee added:
“Rich oil companies should be supporting their workers to transition into new jobs in renewable energy instead. The Day of Action is about coming together around the UK to tell our political representatives to Stop Rosebank now. So we’ll be sharing a simple action anyone can join in with on the day – sending postcards to our local MP.”

For Daisy Wright, the group’s playful approach to synchronised swimming helped spread the message:
“Our wonky joyful synchro is always a great way to remind people that we can make a difference when we come together. We don’t have to be perfect activists – we just need to do what we can, as best we can – and ideally, have fun while we do it.”

Why Rosebank Has Sparked Opposition

Rosebank is owned primarily by Norwegian state oil giant Equinor, with the majority of its oil expected to be sold on the international market for export. Campaigners argue it will not lower energy bills or improve energy security in the UK, while taxpayers would foot most of the development costs.

Profits are projected to flow towards Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, with over £250 million potentially directed to Delek Group, an Israeli fuel conglomerate flagged by the UN for human rights violations in Palestine. Equinor itself is currently under investigation by the Norwegian Consumer Authority for due diligence failures over these links.

What Happens Next?

The UK government is expected to make a final decision on Rosebank in the coming months, once Equinor resubmits its application for development.

Until then, campaigners like the Out of Sink swimmers say they will continue highlighting what they see as the environmental and financial risks of the controversial oil field.