"Protestors rappelled off a bridge and formed a kayak flotilla in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday hoping to delay Royal Dutch Shell's Arctic oil exploration this summer by blocking the return of a ship to Alaska that holds emergency equipment.

Greenpeace said 13 protesters lowered themselves from the St. John's bridge in the early morning and 13 others on the traffic level of the bridge were assisting them.

'Depending on the weather they can stay there for three to five days,' said Cassady Sharp, a spokeswoman for Greenpeace, which says Arctic drilling could be damaging to populations of whales, polar bears and walrus if there is an oil spill."

Shelby Sebens and Timothy Gardner report for Reuters July 30, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Shell Oil Icebreaker in Dry Dock as St. Johns Bridge Protesters Hang Out" (Portland Oregonian) [3]

"Shell To Axe 6,500 Jobs And Cut Spending To Cope With Lower Oil Prices" (Reuters) [4]

"Activists Hang From Oregon's St. Johns Bridge to Protest Shell's Arctic Oil Drilling" (NBC News) [5]

"Day 2, Greenpeace Activists Dangle From St. Johns Bridge in Shell Oil Protest" (KGW) [6]