Oil giant Shell has resumed offshore drilling operations in Alaskan waters, the company said today, after one of its icebreakers was delayed for nearly two days by protesters dangling from a bridge.
Greenpeace activists were suspended from a bridge and in kayaks in the water for more than 40 hours in an effort to block the Fennica icebreaker from traveling to the Transocean Polar Pioneer rig in the Arctic Ocean.
Shell said drilling operations resumed yesterday at 5:00 pm at the "Burger J" prospect in the Chukchi Sea, off the northwest coast of Alaska.
It said work would continue after the 116-meter (380-foot) Fennica icebreaker arrived at the rig.
"In the days to come, the team aboard the Transocean Polar Pioneer will work to complete the top portion of the well in anticipation of drilling to total depth once the Fennica arrives on site," the company told AFP in a statement.
"We remain committed to operating safely and responsibly and adding to Shell's long history of exploration offshore Alaska."
Fennica set off Thursday after it was blocked by the activists, including those suspended from a bridge in hammock-like devices. Other protesters were stationed on the bridge while some floated in kayaks in the water.
A US judge on Thursday threatened to fine the protesters for every hour they continued to block the Shell icebreaker.
Later Thursday, all of the hanging protesters had evacuated the site, but Greenpeace said it would continue to fight Shell and urged US President Barack Obama to stop Shell's exploration activities in the region.
"The 13 #ShellNo climbers have come off the bridge. Now all eyes are on President Obama to save the Arctic," the organization said on Twitter.
In May, Obama authorized oil drilling in the Arctic, a decision that infuriated environmental groups.
