These ships have docked at the BP Cherry Point refinery most frequently since May

Zach Kortge

Vessel traffic data will help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other decision-makers as they reassess a BP Cherry Point dock permit granted about 20 years ago. Environmental groups at the time argued the dock would violate a federal amendment by increasing the processing capacity of the refinery.

Anecdotal vessel data collected once daily from MarineTraffic, an open-source website for boat tracking and vessel information, showed at least 25 tankers visited the BP dock in Whatcom County in the last four months.

These are the ships that docked at the BP Cherry Point refinery most frequently since May:

▪ Overseas Boston, with 12 dockings, can carry about 47,000 tons of cargo and was built in 2008. The 600-foot-long, U.S. flagged oil/chemical tanker was moored at the north dock of the BP Cherry Point refinery Friday afternoon, Aug. 26.

▪ Empire State, with 8 dockings, is a 600-foot oil/chemical tanker carrying about 49,000 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2010.

▪ Alaskan Explorer, with 7 dockings, is a 900-foot crude oil tanker carrying about 193,050 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2005.

▪ American Freedom, with 6 dockings, is a 600-foot oil/chemical tanker carrying about 50,000 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2017.

▪ Alaskan Legend, with 4 dockings, is a 950-foot crude tanker carrying about 193,000 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2006.

▪ Alaskan Navigator, with 4 dockings, is a 950-foot crude oil tanker carrying about 193,000 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2005.

▪ Pluto Moon, with 4 dockings, is a 900-foot crude oil tanker carrying about 157,000 tons of cargo. The Liberian-flagged ship was built in 2010.

▪ Maersk Navigator, with 3 dockings, is an 800-foot oil/chemical tanker carrying about 46,000 tons of cargo. The ship flagged in Denmark was built in 2016.

▪ Washington, with 3 dockings, is an 800-foot crude oil tanker carrying about 115,000 tons of cargo. The U.S.-flagged ship was built in 2014.

The Polar Endeavour sends Alaska crude oil to the Tosco Refining Company in 2001 at Cherry Point. The dock is now owned by Philips 66 and is south of the BP dock the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying.
The Polar Endeavour sends Alaska crude oil to the Tosco Refining Company in 2001 at Cherry Point. The dock is now owned by Philips 66 and is south of the BP dock the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying.

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