By Eric M. Johnson
SEATTLE, June 8 (Reuters) - Seattle activists say policehave dismantled a tent on Monday used as a staging area toorganize local protests over Royal Dutch Shell Plc's use of the city's port as a home base for a drilling rig thatcould depart this week for the Arctic.
Over the last month, activists have staged demonstrationsagainst the oil company's Arctic drilling plans, including onMay 16 when hundreds of protesters in kayaks and small boatsfanned out on a Seattle bay.
Seattle police dismantled but did not seize the 16-foot(5-meter) by 32-foot (10-meter) logistics tent central toorganizing the launch of a planned rig-stopping flotilla, saidBackbone Campaign Executive Director Bill Moyer.
He said discussions with the U.S. Coast Guard suggest thePolar Pioneer rig could begin its voyage to Alaska this week,possibly on Wednesday, though neither Shell nor shipping companyFoss Maritime has commented publicly on the schedule.
Environmental groups say drilling in the Chukchi Sea offAlaska could lead to an ecological catastrophe.
"We would like Seattle to mobilize as many craft on thewater as possible to be a flotilla through which this rig is notallowed to attempt to pass through," Moyer said.
Seattle Police Department spokesman Drew Fowler said therehave been no arrests but "we do have some officers in the publicpark that serves as a boat launch in West Seattle." He said hehad no further details and could not confirm that officers hadtaken down the tent.
Activists say crucial to their efforts is getting boats onthe water before the rig can leave the terminal, when amandatory safety zone keeping watercraft at least 100 yards awayexpands to 500 yards as the rig hits the broader Puget Sound,and the rig's gaining speed would pose a safety risk tokayakers.
Activists are asking citizens to sign up for protest shiftsso they can be called upon to quickly mobilize when the rigprepares for departure.
The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone in the PugetSound, spokesman George Degener said, adding that it can be"almost impossible" for the vessels to stop if a boat were tosuddenly enter its immediate path.
Shell did not immediately respond to a request for comment,nor did Foss Maritime.
The tent takes up two boat trailer parking spots, andactivists have paid $120 for a five-day parking permit, Moyersaid. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Eric Beech)