ShellNo — Daniella Beccaria

An Unwelcome Visitor

Seattle activists stand together against Royal Dutch Shell's Polar Pioneer

From April through June, the city of Seattle was in the spotlight for hosting a controversial oil rig set to drill in the Arctic after gathering supplies in the Port of Seattle. Activists, environmentalists and Pacific Northwest tribal members took it upon themselves to prevent the rig from mooring in the Port and ultimately shut down its potentially dangerous mission. This is a collection of photos depicting the people's response to the corporation.

On August 18, 2015, the Obama Administration passed the final approval for Shell to begin drilling in the Arctic despite protest. After finding less oil than expected, Shell pulled out of the Arctic and abandoned any further drilling.

With the Olympic Mountains in the background, a Greenpeace boat crosses in front of the Transocean Polar Pioneer as it arrives in Port Angeles, Washington on its way to Seattle. The rig arrived aboard a transport ship after traveling across the Pacific before its eventual Arctic destination.

In the early morning light, Greenpeace activists and members of the media prepare to meet the Polar Pioneer as it arrived in Port Angeles, Washington on April 17, 2015.

Reve Hansen and Whealon Costello dance in seagull hats and capes in protest against the planned arrival of Shell's oil drilling rig at Myrtle Edwards Park on Sunday, April 26, 2015. Hundreds gathered for the "Shell No: Seattle Draws the Line" protest organized by various organizations to combat increased climate change and possible damage to the Arctic.

A person in a polar bear costume wades through the water during a protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Kayaktivists prepare to take to the water during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Marla Katz holds up a photos from the BP oil spill in protest of Shell's oil rig coming to Seattle during a meeting at the Port of Seattle on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Members of the community packed in to speak to the Port Commissioners before they vote on whether to allow the rig to come to port.

Paper Kayaks with notes protesting the planned arrival of Shell's oil drilling rig pile up in a kayak waiting to be transported to the Port of Seattle during a protest at Myrtle Edwards Park on Sunday, April 26, 2015. Hundreds gathered for the "Shell No: Seattle Draws the Line" protest organized by various organizations to combat increased climate change and possible damage to the Arctic.

Chiara D'Angelo attaches string to Arctic fish made of foil during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

The Polar Pioneer arrives in Seattle minutes before kayaktivists took to the water to protest the potentially dangerous environmental impacts of arctic drilling. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

People use kayaks to position a protest boat as hundreds of kayaktivists take to the water during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Protesters hold up paper fish during a protest against the planned arrival of Shell's oil drilling rig at Myrtle Edwards Park on Sunday, April 26, 2015. Hundreds gathered for the "Shell No: Seattle Draws the Line" protest organized by various organizations to combat increased climate change and possible damage to the Arctic.

A man holds up a Cascadian flag as hundreds of kayaktivists take to the water during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. The protest flotilla drew many paddlers to show their displeasure with the rig being moored in Seattle. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Crewmembers aboard Shell's Polar Pioneer oil rig snap photos of the kayaktivists gathering below during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the drilling rig. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Protestors chant against the planned arrival of Shell's oil drilling rig during a protest at Myrtle Edwards Park on Sunday, April 26, 2015. Hundreds gathered for the "Shell No: Seattle Draws the Line" protest organized by various organizations to combat increased climate change and possible damage to the Arctic.

Hundreds of kayaktivists take to the water during protest against drilling in the Arctic and the Port of Seattle being used as a port for the Shell Oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Kayaktivists convene for a late night luminary flotilla in protest of arctic drilling and Shell Oil. Protesters decorated kayaks with lights and paper mache in hopes of raising a larger voice for saving the arctic.

A kayaktivists prepares to release a lantern during a luminary flotilla protesting Shell's oil rig and proposed arctic drilling.