Noble Discoverer now Arctic-bound
Image: Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross/USCG
The US Coast Guard (USCG) reported that the Noble Discoverer drillship
has left the Port of Everett, Washington, in the early morning hours of
30 June, and is now Arctic-bound. Thus bringing Shell closer to its
Chukchi Sea drilling season.
Two tugboats and two USCG vessels escorted the Noble Discoverer out of the port to ensure that "kayaktivists" kept 500 yards away from the drillship.
Noble Discoverer was the last of three drilling and support vessels to depart Washington for the Arctic.
According to local news reports five activists were cited for violating the 500-yard safety zone around the Noble Discoverer. Violating the safety zone can lead to a notice of violation that includes a US$500 fine, according to the USCG.
Earlier in June, another asset bound for Shell's $1 billion exploration
and drilling program, Transocean's semisubmersible drilling unit Polar Pioneer,
left Seattle's Puget Sound to begin its journey to Alaska's Chukchi
Sea. At the beginning of its voyage, 13 activists attempted to block the
Polar Pioneer's departure.
In May, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management granted Shell
conditional approval for its multi-year exploration plan in the Chukchi
Sea. Shell’s plan proposed the drilling of up to six wells within the
Burger prospect, located in approximately 140ft of water about 70mi
northwest of the village of Wainwright.
///--------------//
The crew of the Noble Discover transits the Puget sound after departing from the Port of Everett, Wash., June 30, 2015.
Coast
Guard crews and local law enforcement personnel enforced a 500-yard
safety zone around the vessel as it transited Puget Sound to ensure the
safety of all waterway users.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
The crew of the Noble Discoverer transits Puget Sound after its departure from the Port of Everett, Wash., June 30, 2015.
Noble Discoverer was the last of three oil drilling and support vessels to depart western Washington for the Arctic this summer.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin, an 87-foot patrol boat
homeported in Bellingham, Wash., enforces a safety zone around the Noble
Discoverer after the vessel departed from the Port of Everett, Wash.,
June 30, 2015.
Violating the safety zone, which was established to ensure the safety
of everyone on the water, can lead to a notice of violation that
includes a $500 fine.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
A
25-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, from Maritime Safety and Security
Team 91101 based in Seattle, enforces a safety zone around the Noble
Discoverer as it transits through Puget Sound, June 30, 2015.
While
transiting, the safety zone around the Noble Discoverer encompassed all
waters within 500 yards of the vessel in all directions.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross. |
|
Petty
Officer 3rd Class Benjamin Gulden, a boatswain’s mate with Coast Guard
Maritime Safety and Security Team 91101 in Seattle, marks security zone
waypoints into an onboard GPS chart plotter, after arriving on scene
outside of Chambers Bay, Wash., June 15, 2015.
The
temporary security zone was established at 6 a.m. on June 14, and will
be enforced until 11 p.m. on June 22, unless canceled by the captain of
the port.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
|
A
boatcrew, from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91107 from
Honolulu, patrols the temporary security zone established outside of
Chambers Bay, Wash., June 15, 2015.
The purpose of the security zone is to ensure the safety and security of participants, spectators,
and event officials at the U.S. Open Golf Championship, by prohibiting
any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the security zone,
unless authorized by the captain of the port or his designated
representative.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
|
A
boatcrew, from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91107 from
Honolulu, discuss with local law enforcement personnel outside of
Chambers Bay, Wash., June 15, 2015.
The
security zone’s enforcement is being undertaken with a combined effort
of the Coast Guard, Pierce County, Mason County, Kitsap County, City of
Lakewood, City of Tacoma, City of Mercer Island, and Bellingham-based
Customs and Border Protection personnel.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
|
|
A
boatcrew, from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91107 from
Honolulu, transits to Coast Guard Base Seattle, after a day of
enforcing the temporary security zone at Chambers Bay, Wash., June 15,
2015.
The
security zone extends 1,000-yards out from the Chamber’s Bay railroad
bridge, 1,000-yards out from north of the course, and encompasses the
area between these two lines.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
Activists in a
motor vessel spread a sign near the Mukilteo, Wash., ahead of the Noble
Discoverer during its departure to the Arctic, June 30, 2015. Coast
Guard actions are not aimed at restricting the lawful exercise of First
Amendment Rights but the Coast Guard's involvement helps ensure safety
of those using the waterway both as a forum for self-expression and as a
mode of transportation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st
Class George Degener)
Coast Guard members
issue notices of violation to kayakers in Mukilteo, Wash., after they
violated a 500-yard safety zone around the Noble Discoverer during its
transit in Puget Sound, June 30, 2015. Individuals detained for
violating the safety zone were issued notices of violation that include a
$500 fine and released with their equipment. U.S. Coast Guard photo by
Petty (Officer 1st Class George Degener)
Coast Guard members
assist a kayaker with his gear in Mukilteo, Wash., after he was
detained for violating a 500-yard safety zone around the Noble
Discoverer during its transit in Puget Sound, June 30, 2015. Individuals
detained for violating the safety zone were issued notices of violation
that include a $500 fine and released with their equipment. (U.S. Coast
Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener)
Coast Guard members
assist kayakers with their gear in Mukilteo, Wash., after they were
detained for violating a 500-yard safety zone around the Noble
Discoverer during its transit in Puget Sound, June 30, 2015. Individuals
detained for violating the safety zone were issued notices of violation
that include a $500 fine and released with their equipment. (U.S. Coast
Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener)
Activists in a
motor vessel spread a sign near the Mukilteo, Wash., ahead of the Noble
Discoverer during its departure to the Arctic, June 30, 2015. Coast
Guard actions are not aimed at restricting the lawful exercise of First
Amendment Rights but the Coast Guard's involvement helps ensure safety
of those using the waterway both as a forum for self-expression and as a
mode of transportation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st
Class George Degener)
|