Shell’s Arctic Ambitions Held Up In Seattle

Oilprice.com ^ | 06-05-2015 | The Balvenie

[bananaman22]

Shell’s ambitious plans to finally return to the Arctic face yet another hurdle, one that could delay drilling once again.

Shell is using the port of Seattle as its base for some of its vessels that it will use in the Arctic. Seattle has been a launching point for Shell in the past (and has hosted Alaskan drilling equipment for decades), but a new greener municipal government is taking a harder look at Shell’s operations. Spurred on by Shell’s error-ridden 2012 campaign in the Arctic that culminated in the grounding of the Kulluk, environmental groups have mustered up some political power over Shell’s Arctic program. While not necessarily having the upper hand – much of the decision-making happens at the federal level – Seattle environmental groups have a powerful ally in City Hall.

City regulators just concluded that Shell will now need a separate permit to house its drilling equipment and tugboats at the Seattle port. Mayor Ed Murray agreed, praising the decision while also calling for a transition away from oil.

[erkelly]

So now does Shell move its operations elsewhere and Seattle lose the jobs/tax revenue generated?

[JoeVet]

I would bet that the Canadians would welcome them with open arms - and a gloved hand coated with a tack rag.

The idiots in Seattle are bound and determined to turn their city into a ghost town.

I wish them all the best success in the world, and would vote to pass a law that doesn’t permit any of their citizens from leaving the city limits.

[Svartalfiar]

I'm not quite sure how the city can randomly single out a single company for extra permits and regulations.. Don't think they can do that when it comes down to the courts. Of course, all they're really looking for is to delay Shell enough to miss the drilling season. Yet Shell’s local contractor, Foss Maritime, insists that the current permit was sufficient to dock Shell’s ships. In fact, Paul Query, a spokesperson for Foss, criticized the Mayor’s opposition. “The mayor’s action…raises grave concerns about his stated commitment to Seattle’s thriving maritime community,” Queary said in a written statement. “By giving a small but vocal group the ability to jeopardize the commercial relationships between our local maritime businesses and the Port of Seattle, the mayor is casting serious doubt on the future of the city’s working waterfront.”

[angry elephant]

I would bet that the Canadians would welcome them with open arms - and a gloved hand coated with a tack rag.”

Yes, Canada will welcome them as they did the coal terminal that the goofy Seattle libs protested. The ones protesting the drilling equipment actually believe that the empty rigs pollute the Sound.

They are determined to turn Seattle into a ghost town. Many small businesses are closing due to the 15.00 minimum wage.

[brothers4thID]

I thought the Port Authority decided to tell the City to GFY? Also, the local greenies keep reporting this as a “rig” when it’s just a few tugs and an exploration ship.