Ruling backs Shell’s use of Seattle homeport for its fleet

Shell’s Fennica vessel. Photo: John Ryan/KUCB.
A hearing examiner says Seattle officials erred when they said the Port of Seattle couldn’t host Shell Oil’s Arctic drilling fleet under its current permit.
Mayor Ed Murray said in May that the port needed a new land use permit to host Shell’s drilling fleet. City planners had decided the proposed activities weren’t allowed under the existing permit.
After an appeal, the hearing officer ruled Wednesday that the city&rsq