Lease allows Shell's oil drilling fleet to use Seattle port



SEATTLE (AP) — The Port of Seattle has signed a two-year lease allowing Royal Dutch Shell PLC to use Seattle's waterfront as a homeport for its Arctic oil drilling fleet.

Port CEO Theodore Fick says he inked the deal Monday to lease 50 acres across from downtown Seattle to Foss Maritime, whose client is Shell.

He disclosed the details in a letter Wednesday to Patti Goldman, an attorney with Earthjustice who is representing environmental groups.

The groups last month asked commissioners to halt the lease. They say the port should have done an environmental review first as well as provide more public notice.

Fick says the lease complies with environmental regulations. He says the lease will bring in about $13 million in rent over the two years. Eight vessels would be moored at the terminal.