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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US Coast Guard ends Shell icebreaker bridge protest | US Coast Guard ends Shell icebreaker bridge protest |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Environmental activists have been removed from a bridge in Portland, Oregon, allowing an icebreaker to join a US Arctic oil-drilling operation. | Environmental activists have been removed from a bridge in Portland, Oregon, allowing an icebreaker to join a US Arctic oil-drilling operation. |
| Police lowered the Greenpeace campaigners dangling on ropes from St John's Bridge into boats, while the Coast Guard cleared dozens of kayaks. | Police lowered the Greenpeace campaigners dangling on ropes from St John's Bridge into boats, while the Coast Guard cleared dozens of kayaks. |
| The icebreaker, chartered by Royal Dutch Shell, had been prevented from leaving port for hours. | |
| A judge has ordered Greenpeace to pay $2,500 (£1,600) per hour of blockage. | |
| The Fennica icebreaker was in Portland for repairs. At one point it had to retreat before the 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. |
| 'Unique situation' | 'Unique situation' |
| The protest began on Wednesday. Thirteen activists were hanging from the bridge and another 13 were looking out. | The protest began on Wednesday. Thirteen activists were hanging from the bridge and another 13 were looking out. |
| After a tense standoff, on Thursday evening authorities began lowering some of the campaigners around 200ft (60m) onto Coast Guard boats below the bridge. | After a tense standoff, on Thursday evening authorities began lowering some of the campaigners around 200ft (60m) onto Coast Guard boats below the bridge. |
| The vessel then weaved through some remaining protesters hanging from the bridge, moving toward the Pacific Ocean. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 activists said they had 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. |
| Campaign groups have urged President Barack Obama to rescind Shell's permit 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. | They say drilling could be damaging to populations of whales, polar bears and walrus in the event of a spill. |