Shell oil rig in Puget Sound today - leaving for Alaska

Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

The Shell oil rig Polar Pioneer started out from Seattle early Monday morning, bound for drilling in Alaskan waters. It was confronted by protesters in kayaks in Elliott Bay with many being arrested for violating the safety zone around the rig.

It was pretty far from Shoreline shores,
but the tide was very low
Photo by Jan Hansen

When it got to the Port Madison / Indianola area around 10:30am, it stopped for several hours while the tow boats rearranged all their lines. Around 2:30pm, it headed north again, passing Hansville at the tip of the Kitsap Peninsula at 5:30pm on its way north.

The tugboats spent several hours
rearranging their tow lines
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Lines finally reset and heading north
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Looming over the lighthouse at Hansville
Photo by Christy Deich Mackey