Protester leaves Shell ship north of Seattle; 1 remains

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — One of the two protesters who chained themselves to an Arctic oil-drilling support ship parked north of Seattle has left the vessel.

The Coast Guard reports that protester Matt Fuller requested help getting down from the Arctic Challenger in Bellingham Bay about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. The ship is part of a fleet Royal Dutch Shell plans to use to conduct exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea off northwestern Alaska this summer.

A student activist identified as Chiara D'Angelo suspended herself from the vessel's anchor chain on Friday night, and Fuller joined her Saturday. Local activist Jill MacIntyre Witt said Sunday that D'Angelo remains in place.

The Coast Guard said it brought Fuller to Coast Guard Station Bellingham, where he was met by medical staff and local police. He was not arrested.

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