The New York Times magazine has published an informative article by Robert Sullivan about Prelude, under the appropriate headline:
“The Biggest Ship in the World (Though It Isn’t Exactly a Ship)”
The dangers associated with innovative technology, with potentially disastrous consequences, are heightened following the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket ship explosion in the US.
To obtain an overall assessment on risks relating to Prelude, the article by Robert Sullivan is best read in conjunction with a series of articles by experts triggered by a well-placed whistleblower directly involved in the equally pioneering Shell Prelude project. Includes articles by Bill Campbell, the retired distinguished HSE Group Auditor of Shell International and Hans Bouman, another retired Shell guru with a track record of spotting potential pitfalls in major Shell projects.
Spotting potential pitfalls is essential bearing in mind that according to The New York Times magazine, it is anticipated that 30 of these giant floating facilities (some might call them potential floating bombs) are to be constructed.
Lets hope the prospect of them being a possible magnet for terrorist activity has also been carefully considered.
It is relevant to note that on the 1st November, Shell Brent Alpha and Bravo North Sea platforms saw the last day of activity after more than four decades of productivity. A safety audit on the platforms in 1999, led by Bill Campbell, exposed a “Touch Fuck All” safety culture in place, with safety records routinely falsified. Mr Campbell reported the damning audit findings. Shell senior management promised to take action, but failed to do so, and a subsequent huge explosion killed workers on the Brent Bravo platform. Shell received a record breaking fine for avoidable fatalities. Profits had been given a higher priority than safety.
We can only hope and pray that Shell has mended its ways.
The recent Arctic drilling debacle suggests otherwise.
PRELUDE ARTICLES
Royal Dutch Shell Prelude to disaster?: 10 Jan 2014
Shell Prelude FLNG: loss of containment of hydrocarbons almost inevitable: 21 Feb 2014
What should frighten stiff Royal Dutch Shell shareholders: 15 March 2014
Tales of the Unexpected and Royal Dutch Shell Prelude FLNG: 28 March 2014
Prelude FLNG: A case of all your eggs in the one basket: 10 July 2014
Prelude FLNG risks are on par with modern offshore oil and gas facilities say Shell – but are they?: 23 Sept 2014
Royal Dutch Shell Prelude Project ‘A Step Too Far’: 25 Sept 2014
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
Pioneering, by definition, is entering uncharted territory to transform it into a known domain. Voortrekkers(pioneers) everywhere earn high accolades for risks taken and obstacles overcome. Reconnaissance is a part of every venture in every sphere of life and the benefits accrued make it worthwhile. Those who pay the price to make ventures possible deserve the highest honours. Risktaking is a necessary evil.