After turning back to port earlier this morning, Royal Dutch Shell’s ship, the Fennica, departed Portland, Oregon Thursday.
The vessel’s route was impeded by protesters this morning who were trying to stop its travel along the Willamette River toward the Pacific Ocean.
Authorities stepped in to force protesters in kayaks from the river and removed others dangling from a bridge which originally faced off with the ship.
Some protesters said they were cited for criminal trespassing and interfering with a peace officer.
The Fennica arrived in Portland last week for repairs after it struck an underwater obstruction near the Aleutian Islands earlier this month, tearing a gash in its hull.
The ship is a key part of Shell’s exploration plans in the Chukchi Sea, where it will break ice for Shell’s fleet and carry the equipment to stop gushing oil.
