The urgent application to interdict Shell from launching its seismic survey off the Wild Coast has been dismissed.
The ruling was handed down by judge Avinash Govindjee in the Makhanda high court.
Shell's commissioned survey vessel, Shearwater Geoservice's Amazon Warrior, was due to start with seismic exploration on December 1, but was temporarily halted due to the court action.
The activity will involve an array of 108 air guns firing at 10-second intervals into the water for the next four to five months.
The explosions of 220-260 decibels will penetrate the water column, enter the seabed and bounce back to the surface with information of oil and gas deposits.
Govindjee said the applicants — Border Deep Sea Angling Association, Kei Mouth Ski Boat Club, human rights law agency Natural Justice and eco-activist group Greenpeace — had not convinced him that the survey would cause irreparable damage to marine life.
The application was dismissed with costs.
Environmentalists have not yet indicated if they will apply for leave to appeal the ruling.
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