Marine Agency Publishes Positions of Dropped Boulders
Nine reported boulder locations in the Southern North Sea are now listed to help vessels navigate safely.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Environmental
The Marine Management Organisation has published the reported positions of boulders that Greenpeace reportedly dropped in the Southern North Sea. The positions were relayed by Greenpeace to HM Coastguard, which shared them with the agency, though not all listed positions have been independently verified.
Why it matters
The published coordinates are intended to support safe navigation for fishing vessels and other sea users in the area. Mariners operating there are advised to account for the reported positions when planning and conducting their activities.
The Marine Management Organisation published nine reported boulder positions, relayed by Greenpeace through HM Coastguard. The agency has not independently verified all of the listed locations, so their accuracy remains unconfirmed.
The players
Marine Management Organisation
The Marine Management Organisation is the UK government body responsible for regulating and licensing activities in the seas around England and for marine planning.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is an international environmental organisation known for direct-action campaigns on ocean and climate issues.
HM Coastguard
HM Coastguard is the UK maritime search and rescue service that coordinates emergency response at sea and around the coast.
The details
Greenpeace reportedly dropped boulders in the Southern North Sea and relayed their coordinates to HM Coastguard. HM Coastguard shared the positions with the Marine Management Organisation, which published them for public use.
Timeline
The Marine Management Organisation published the boulder position statement on 2 November 2026.
Big Picture
The publication falls under the Marine Management Organisation's established role in managing seabed obstructions and marine works in English waters. It reflects how the agency relies on third-party reports relayed through HM Coastguard when verifying hazards at sea.
Anyone sailing, fishing, or working in the Southern North Sea should check the published boulder positions before planning routes. Verifying the coordinates against current charts before entering the area helps avoid collisions with obstructions.
The takeaway
Published navigation warnings only protect mariners when they are current and checked against official charts. Anyone operating in the Southern North Sea should treat these reported positions as a prompt to verify conditions before sailing.
Further reading
For more on how these ocean issues are tracked, browse the Environmental section.
