Activists rappel off Oregon bridge to stop Shell icebreaker

More than a dozen activists rappelled off the St. Johns Bridge in an effort to stop a Shell Oil Arctic icebreaker from leaving Portland.

Greenpeace USA executive director Annie Leonard says the protesters dangling off the bridge early Wednesday 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

Leonard says delaying the icebreaker will give President Obama more time to reconsider giving Shell the last permit it needs to drill.

Opponents of Arctic drilling worry the area’s remoteness and rugged conditions will hamper cleanup efforts in the event of a spill, risking devastation to a fragile marine ecosystem.

Previous articleUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks cuts $20 million from budget
Next articleFeds ask cruise ships, boats to stay farther away from seals