Coast Guard creates First Amendment zone in Puget Sound for anti-Shell protests

The U.S. Coast Guard, with help from activist groups, has identified an informal First Amendment Zone, just north of Terminal 5, where protesters can take to the water against Shell Oils Arctic drilling fleet when it arrives at the Port of Seattle.

The Shell Arctic drilling rig Polar Pioneer. It was occupied by Greenpeace protesters last week, demonstrating against Shells plans to drill in Arctic waters this summer. It is due soon in Washington waters.

I didnt choose this area: I gave them a chart and asked them where they wanted to be, Capt. Joe Raymond, captain of the port, said Tuesday.

Raymond initiated a meeting on Monday with organizers of a sea of kayaks protest. He described the zone as an excellent place for protesters wishing a high-visibility presence while not interfering with ferries, tugs and other marine traffic in the harbor.

Still, a key player in the anti-Shell protests Greenpeace says no accord was reached at the meeting on where sea-borne protests can take place.

We did not walk away with an agreement on where people can be or how they will conduct themselves, said John Deans, Arctic campaign specialist with Greenpeace.

For us, the questions will be: What do people want to do? Where do people want to be? This is a movement that we are talking about.

If its drilling plan passes final muster with two U.S. Interior Department agencies, Shell intends to operate two drilling rigs and drill two exploratory wells this summer in Alaskas remote Chukchi Sea.

The Shell drilling ship Noble Discoverer drifts near shore near Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island in the summer of 2012 after losing its moorings. Its due back this summer. Photo: Capt. Kristjan B. Laxfoss / AP

The Polar Pioneer occupied at sea last week by six Greenpeace activists is due soon in Washington waters, but will stop in Port Angeles, as first reported Monday by The Stranger.

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Coast Guard creates First Amendment zone in Puget Sound for anti-Shell protests