Protester leaves Shell ship north of Seattle; 1 remains

SEATTLE (AP) - One of two protesters who affixed themselves to an Arctic oil-drilling support ship parked north of Seattle left the vessel Sunday, but the other remained suspended from its anchor chain in an effort to draw attention to climate change and the risks an oil spill could pose in the remote waters off northwestern Alaska.

Protester Matt Fuller requested help getting down from the Arctic Challenger in Bellingham Bay about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, and the Coast Guard said it obliged.

The Arctic Challenger is part of a fleet Royal Dutch Shell expects to use to conduct exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea off northwestern Alaska this summer - plans that have drawn large protests in Seattle, where a massive, floating drill rig is being prepared for the excursion.

A student activist identified as Chiara D'Angelo suspended herself from the Arctic Challenger's anchor chain on Friday night, and Fuller joined her early Saturday.

In a telephone interview Sunday, Fuller, 37, said D'Angelo remained hanging from the anchor chain in a hammock.