Officials shoot down kayaktivists’ claim that Shell failed Everett departure

Word was spread to anti-Shell activists early Monday morning that Shell’s final drilling rig in the Puget Sound was making its move to the Arctic. Kayaks were prepped and hit the water, but the call turned out to be a false alarm.

Shell Oil’s Noble Discoverer took a short trip in the waters off of Everett before returning to dock, as kayaktivists went into action.

Activists were quick to claim that the ship failed a “calibration test,” and was forced to return to shore. That assertion was spread through text and social media. But a document from within Shell proves the short trip was a planned maneuver.

“The Noble Discoverer, which is the second Arctic drilling rig of Shell’s that was locally based, tried to leave and apparently had calibration problems and had to go back to port,” said Emily Johnston said Monday morning.

Johnston is with 350 Seattle, a climate change organization involved with anti-Shell activity in the Puget Sound.

Shell, however, maintains a different account of the morning’s activities.

“Every maneuver, including the transit back to the port, was planned,” said Shell spokesperson Curtis Smith.

“I can confirm everything went according to plan this morning and with good results,” he said.

An official with Noble Drilling also said that the early morning maneuver was a long-planned equipment calibration procedure.

A document obtained by MyNorthwest from a source confirms that the ship’s crew did plan for the morning maneuver at least one day in advance. The document was released within Shell June 28, a day before the ship turned around off the shores of Everett.

When the ship fired up its engines and began to move away from the Everett dock Monday, an activist network with ShellNo was notified that the drill ship was “about to leave Everett.” Activists were instructed to meet at the Mulkilteo ferry dock, and were told that kayaks were available.

“Two (kayaktivists) started in the water in Everett and a bunch of folks were going over to Mukilteo to meet it there, and they brought extra kayaks for anybody who could join them,” Johnston said.

Johnston maintains that there was some malfunction Monday morning and that activists monitoring the radio had recorded proof. That recording has not been made available. She cites the ship’s past issues.

In 2014, Noble Drilling pleaded guilty to eight felonies and paid $12.2 million in fines.

“I don’t think anybody should be drilling in the Arctic. It’s just plain bad news,” Johnston said. “But even assuming that somebody should be, that somebody is not Shell.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.