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US Coast Guard moves to end Shell icebreaker protest US Coast Guard ends Shell icebreaker bridge protest
(about 1 hour later)
The US Coast Guard has begun an operation to remove Greenpeace protesters blocking an icebreaker from departing Portland, Oregon. Environmental activists have been removed from a bridge in Portland, Oregon, allowing an icebreaker to join a US Arctic oil-drilling operation.
Some of 13 activists who have been hanging from a bridge since Wednesday have been forced down. Police lowered the Greenpeace campaigners dangling on ropes from St John's Bridge into boats, while the Coast Guard cleared dozens of kayaks.
They prevented a Royal Dutch Shell owned icebreaker vessel from leaving for the Arctic for a drill operation. The Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker was prevented from leaving port for hours.
A judge has ordered the protesters to pay a $2,500 (£1,600) fine for every hour they block the ship. A federal judge has ordered the protesters to pay $2,500 (£1,600) for every hour they blocked the ship.
The icebreaker was heading to the Arctic for drilling and has been in Portland for repairs. On Thursday it retreated when activists refused to move. The Fennica icebreaker was in Portland for repairs. At one point it had to retreat before the activists refused to move.
Protesters started hanging from Portland's St John's Bridge on Wednesday. Thirteen were hanging and another 13 were looking out. 'Unique situation'
Authorities are now lowering some of the protestors around 200ft (60m) onto Coast Guard boats below the bridge. The protest began on Wednesday. Thirteen activists were hanging from the bridge and another 13 were looking out.
US District Court Sharon Gleason ruled that Greenpeace is in civil contempt. After a tense standoff, on Thursday evening authorities began lowering some of the campaigners around 200ft (60m) onto Coast Guard boats below the bridge.
In May, Ms Gleason validated Shell's request that activists in protest of the company's Arctic drilling stay away from Shell vessels. The vessel then weaved through some remaining protesters hanging from the bridge, moving toward the Pacific Ocean.
Portland police spokesman Sgt Pete Simpson said safety was the priority during the operation to clear the demonstrators.
"This is, obviously, a very unique situation," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Earlier, US District Court Sharon Gleason ruled that Greenpeace was in civil contempt, ordering the fine.
The US Coast Guard warned the protesters that they were breaking the law.The US Coast Guard warned the protesters that they were breaking the law.
The activist said they have packed enough food and water with them on the bridge "for the long haul". The activists said they had packed enough food and water with them on the bridge "for the long haul".
The icebreaker is a part of Shell's exploration and spill-response plan off of Alaska's coast, protecting the fleet from ice.The icebreaker is a part of Shell's exploration and spill-response plan off of Alaska's coast, protecting the fleet from ice.
Activists want to delay the ship until 2016 and hope President Obama will rescind the permit for Shell to drill in the Arctic. Campaign groups have urged President Barack Obama to rescind Shell's permit to drill in the Arctic.
They say drilling could be damaging to populations of whales, polar bears and walrus in the event of a spill.