Everett to host Arctic oil drilling ships

EVERETT — Royal Dutch Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic means more traffic at the Port of Everett this spring and summer.

Several ships supporting Shell’s offshore drilling in the Arctic are spending time at the port. A 400-foot drilling platform called the Polar Pioneer is to undergo maintenance at the Port of Seattle, where city leaders are hoping to keep it out. The rig is at Port Angeles pending a move to Seattle.

The energy company is still trying to get permits required to use the leased rig for exploratory drilling this summer in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast.

Along with other Washington and Alaska ports, Everett was considered as a base for the drill rig, but Shell opted for Seattle, said Lisa Lefeber, the Port of Everett’s spokeswoman.

Several ships contracted by Shell to support the rig will use the Port of Everett, she said.

The ships are the Aiviq, Ross Chouest, Harvey Supporter, Harvey Champion, Harvey Explorer and Sisuaq. Most were in Everett on Wednesday.

Throughout the season, the port expects the additional traffic to directly support dozens of jobs and bring millions of dollars in local spending, she said.

The drill rig is supposed to bring hundreds of well-paying jobs to Seattle, as well. The economic benefit doesn’t outweigh the environmental concerns, opponents say.

Environmentalists say having the rig in Puget Sound increases pollution risk and that oil companies haven’t shown they are capable of handling oil spills in icy Arctic waters. Environmentalists are planning protest action in Puget Sound involving kayaks.

All the ships that are expected to be in Everett were included in safety regulations announced last week by the Coast Guard.

The temporary rules require any demonstrators to stay at least 100 yards away while the ships are anchored or moored, and 500 yards while they are moving.

The Associated Press contributed. Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.