Northwest Environmental News

Protesters Rappel From Portland Bridge To Delay Shell Icebreaker

By Amelia Templeton, Amanda Peacher, John Sepulvado

Published July 29, 2015 at 5:27 PM PDT

A Shell icebreaking vessel being protested by Greenpeace and other activist groups will not leave a Portland dock Wednesday, according to the Columbia River Bar Pilot dispatch.

Word of the cancellation came as 13 protesters dangled from the St. Johns Bridge about a mile downstream from the Shell vessel.

Greenpeace USA executive director Annie Leonard says the protesters dangling off the bridge have enough water and food to last for days.

The Royal Dutch Shell PLC icebreaker Fennica arrived in Portland for repairs Saturday. The Fennica was damaged earlier this month in the Aleutian Islands when it struck an underwater obstruction, tearing a gash in its hull.

The protest is also affecting car traffic traveling over the St. John Bridge.

Federal permits allowing Royal Dutch Shell to drill for oil require the Fennica to be on site in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.

Climate change activists gathered in North Portland on Tuesday, launching kayaks into the Willamette River to get in the Fennica’s way.

Shell spokesman Curtis Smith told OPB that the Fennica will begin its return journey to Alaska once final preparations are complete. Smith says the company respects the choice of people to protest. He did not indicate when the ship is expected to depart.

According to the Columbia River Bar Pilotswebsite, The Fennica was scheduled to depart early Wednesday. That was rescheduled for noon before its departure time was removed from the website Wednesday afternoon, with the icebreaker remaining at Vigor Industrial's dry dock.

Organizer Michael Gaskill, with Portland Rising Tide, said his goal was to delay the ship and to tell Shell that drilling in the Arctic is immoral.

“I am personally willing to risk arrest for this. I feel like this is one of the most important issues of our time,” Gaskill said.

Pete Simpson with Portland Police said that officers are monitoring the protestors, for now.

"Dangling off the bridge is against the law," said Simpson. "There are trespassing laws that would apply. And I believe other statutes that would apply. Our hope is that people will demonstrate peacefully and that they are not in a position to interfere with river traffic."

Simpson said Portland Police are coordinating operations along with the county sheriff's office and the Coast Guard

A spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard said people need to stay at least 500 yards away from the front of the Fennica when it’s underway.

Officers will warn people who enter the safety zone, and then remove them physically if necessary. Violators could face a $500 fine.

An official with Shell said its Arctic drilling plan has passed a thorough federal environmental review, even as it has faced protests in Portland and other Northwest cities. The company said global energy use will double by the year 2050, and the reserves off Alaska’s coast could help meet that demand.

Contributing: Associated Press

<p>Twenty-six protestors rappelled off North Portland's St. Johns Bridge and fixed themselves in place, blocking passage for the Fennica.</p><p> </p> — Twenty-six protestors rappelled off North Portland's St. Johns Bridge and fixed themselves in place, blocking passage for the Fennica.

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

<p>Portland group "Raging Grannies" were present as well and rode out to the Fennica on a motorboat.</p> — Portland group "Raging Grannies" were present as well and rode out to the Fennica on a motorboat.

<p>The first paddlers began their ride out in the shipyard.</p> — The first paddlers began their ride out in the shipyard.

<p>The crowd chanted heartily throughout the few hours spent on the water.</p> — The crowd chanted heartily throughout the few hours spent on the water.

<p>An organizer of the event directed the kayakers.</p> — An organizer of the event directed the kayakers.

<p>In some areas the river was filled with blue green algae, attributed to the warm water temperatures.</p> — In some areas the river was filled with blue green algae, attributed to the warm water temperatures.

<p>Kayakers raised their paddles in protest in front of the Fennica.</p> — Kayakers raised their paddles inprotest in front of the Fennica.

<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.

Christina Belasco

<p>Kayaktavists and climbers repelled from the St. Johns Bridge to block the Fennica, Shell's icebreaker ship, from leaving the port of Portland Wednesday, July 29, 2015.</p> — Kayaktavists and climbers repelled from the St. Johns Bridge to block the Fennica, Shell's icebreaker ship, from leaving the port of Portland Wednesday, July 29, 2015.

<p>Community members watched anxiously as the bridge was raised.</p> — Community members watched anxiously as the bridge was raised.

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.

<p>Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard spoke with members of Portland's Greenpeace chapter during Wednesday's protest.</p> — Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard spoke with members of Portland's Greenpeace chapter during Wednesday's protest.

<p>Protesters hung from the St. John's Bridge Wednesday in protest of Shell's Arctic drilling efforts.</p> — Protesters hung from the St. John's Bridge Wednesday in protest of Shell's Arctic drilling efforts.