Northwest Environmental News

Coast Guard Fines Activists For Icebreaker Protest

By Amelia Templeton

Published August 13, 2015 at 7:55 AM PDT

The U.S. Coast Guard says it has notified five Greenpeace protesters they are being fined $5,000 each for interfering with the safe operation of a vessel, during their effort to blockade a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker in Portland for repairs.

The protesters facing the fines include three who dangled on lines below the St. John's bridge for 40 hours, and two support staff who were on the deck of the bridge.

The violations have been referred to a Coast Guard hearing office in Virginia. The protesters have the right to appeal.

A Greenpeace spokeswoman said Wednesday she had not been notified of the charges and was working to confirm them.

The icebreaking vessel Fennica arrived in Portland late last month for repairs to its hull after sustaining damage in the Aleutian Islands.

To prevent the vessel from leaving Portland and returning to the Arctic, 13 Greenpeace protesters suspended themselves from the St. John's Bridge.

Portland police, fire and rescue teams, and members of the Coast Guard were eventually able to clear the way for the Fennica to leave the city July 30.

The vessel arrived at Shell's Arctic Ocean drilling site on Tuesday.

<p>The kayakers coordinated their sign display in a few different locations near the vessel.</p> — The kayakers coordinated their sign display in a few different locations near the vessel.

<p>The kayakers launched from the Swan Island boat ramp.</p> — The kayakers launched from the Swan Island boat ramp.

<p>Scenes from above river (Univ of Portland bluffs) of kayaktivists paddling along the 900 ft long Vigor Industries drydock, repairing the damaged Fennica icebreaker/spill response ship of Shell for its contriversial Arctic oil drilling. More information on this issue see www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org</p> — Scenes from above river (Univ of Portland bluffs) of kayaktivists paddling along the 900 ft long Vigor Industries drydock, repairing the damaged Fennica icebreaker/spill response ship of Shell for its contriversial Arctic oil drilling. More information on this issue see www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org

Christina Belasco

<p>Kayaktivists from environmental groups across the northwest paddled out on the Willamette River to protest against Arctic oil drilling. One of Shell's icebreaker ships, the Fennica, was in Portland undergoing repairs.</p> — Kayaktivists from environmental groups across the northwest paddled out on the Willamette River to protest against Arctic oil drilling. One of Shell's icebreaker ships, the Fennica, was in Portland undergoing repairs.

<p>Kayakers raised their paddles in protest in front of the Fennica.</p> — Kayakers raised their paddles inprotest of Shell's Arctic oil drilling efforts in front of the Fennica during a protest in Portland.

Christina Belasco

A protester releases a flag that was lowered down from the St. Johns Bridge Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Protesters hung from the bridge in protest to block a Shell icebreaker which was scheduled to return to Alaska.