Greenpeace protests who had tried to prevent a Shell oil ship from reaching Alaska could face fines of up to $5,000.
According to reports, the Coast Guard has warned the protestors have 30 days to either pay the fines or contest the civil citations before a hearing officer.
The environmental group has been ramping up its protest against the move in the past couple of months as Shell looks to resume its operations in the Arctic.
The move to fine the protestors comes after around 13 people lowered themselves on ropes from a bridge in Oregon to block the icebreaker MSV Fennica from passing its way through to the Alaska coast.
The Fennica had been detoured to Oregon for repairs last month after it hit a rock and damaged its hull.
Earlier this week Shell chief executive Ben Van Beurden told how he had been on a ‘personal journey’ before finalising the move to drill in the Arctic.
Former BP chief executive Lord John Browne has warned the move could cost the oil major ‘dearly’.
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