Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Noble Discoverer drillship has left the Port of Everett, Washington, in the early morning hours of 30 June, and is now Arctic-bound

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.


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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 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 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.
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.
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.
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, 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 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, 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 1000-yards out from the Chamber’s Bay railroad bridge, 1000-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.
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.

Coast Guard enforces safety zone around Noble Discoverer in Puget Sound
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 enforces safety zone around Noble Discoverer in Puget Sound
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 enforces safety zone around Noble Discoverer in Puget Sound
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 enforces safety zone around Noble Discoverer in Puget Sound
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)


Coast Guard enforces safety zone around Noble Discoverer in Puget Sound
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)


 

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