Activists Block Icebreaker Ship Bound For Alaska Drilling Operation

05:34

July 30, 2015

Activists unfurl colored banners while hanging from the St. Johns bridge in Portland, Ore. on Wednesday to protest the departure of Royal Dutch Shell PLC icebreaker Fennica, which is in Portland for repairs. (Don Ryan/AP)

Thirteen anti-drilling activists suspended themselves from the St John's Bridge in Portland, Oregon, to block an icebreaker headed for a drilling operation off the coast of Alaska.

The Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker, Fennica, was in port for repairs and left drydock on Wednesday. As it was attempting to leave the port, it turned back as it approached the protesters.

Georgia Hirsty, one of the 13 activists suspended from the bridge, joins Here & Now's Robin Young to talk about the group's protest.

"The Shell rigs that are there right now can't actually begin drilling for oil until a mission critical piece of equipment — the capping stack that's on board the Fennica - arrives," Hirsty said. "So by blocking the Fennica, we're effectively stopping Shell from drilling in the Arctic. So every moment that we stop this ship form leaving, is another moment that the Arctic is safe from drilling. And hopefully it's long enough to at least get through this season without them drilling in it."

Guest

Georgia Hirsty, an activist with Greenpeace.

This segment aired on July 30, 2015.