The U.S. Coast Guard took this shot today of Shell's mobile offshore drilling platform, the Kulluk, aground on remote Sitkalidak Island on the southeast side of Kodiak Island. Shell used the platform in drilling operations this summer in the Arctic Ocean. A tug was towing the nonmotorized rig to Seattle for maintenance when it experienced engine and towline problems in tough weather. A huge emergency response and salvage effort is under way, but the Kulluk could be doomed. Shell had spent $292 million upgrading the platform, which was evacuated well before the grounding. USCG photoTuesday, January 1, 2013
Not looking good
The U.S. Coast Guard took this shot today of Shell's mobile offshore drilling platform, the Kulluk, aground on remote Sitkalidak Island on the southeast side of Kodiak Island. Shell used the platform in drilling operations this summer in the Arctic Ocean. A tug was towing the nonmotorized rig to Seattle for maintenance when it experienced engine and towline problems in tough weather. A huge emergency response and salvage effort is under way, but the Kulluk could be doomed. Shell had spent $292 million upgrading the platform, which was evacuated well before the grounding. USCG photo
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22 comments:
You never know...they have lots of tugs on the scene now. Maybe if the weather lets off they can get that thing off the beach, provided it doesn't get a hole poked in the bottom first.
What a BEAUTIFUL sight, mans best getting it's ass handed to it by environmental forces. The reality and symbolic value should not be overlooked.
Welcome to Alaska you idiots. Come back better prepared. Thanks for the artificial reef.
Ah, to "see Shell by the sea shore"! Poetry in motion. They may need to take off their rose colored glasses. This is natural Alaska, absolutely indifferent to power or influence.In the eyes of god they are a bug between His thumb and a forefinger.
Amen
Here I squat, my legs a flexin',
givin' birth to a Texan!
CLEAN-UP, ISLAND 7!
What is the difference between a Texan and an Alaskan?
The Texans invented the toliet seat,the Alaskans cut a Big Ass Hole in it!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.......aaaaaaahahahahahaha!!!
Look around, look around, you ain't in the gulf of Mexico Any more boys. Come back and see us soon now yahear. Oh ya, I wouldn't try to move a rig up here in January anymore.
Are you sure a project manager ain't on the way to the Hague.
Bozo's Favorite Colors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dutch_Shell
Who the hell is Shell's Alaska maritime operations guy & what kind of expertise does he/she have or lack thereof? Haven't heard a peep from the press about who made this bonehead call to move the rig during the winter.
You know Shell USA? It's a primary Color.
http://www.sesamestreet.org/muppets/big-bird
Of course using the Hague's primary color, tasty treats from...the beach.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Den_Haag_wapen.svg
Doesn't anyone analyze the weather conditions. Any prudent skipper in Alaska weighs the weather conditions before he leaves the harbor and if does have to go at it he checks his gear and considers options. No contingency plan? They decided to stay near shore instead of taking the direct circle route to Seattle from Dutch? There is more than meets the eye here, something very oily in the water, maybe if they had hired commercial fishermen or experts who actually tow things around in the North Pacific they would have not created this debacle. You say that SHELL will be coming back? Maybe to put up another gas station, their exploration public permit will be in suspension for some time.
Prudent Skippers 7:01?
Seriously? Been in the Country Long? Are the United States Reports, really that confusing?
Witnesses testified that before the Valdez left port on the night of the disaster, Hazelwood downed at least five double vodkas in the waterfront bars of Valdez, an intake of about 15 ounces of 80-proof alcohol, enough “that a non-alcoholic would have passed out.” 270 F. 3d, at 1236.
They name their storms in the South, and call them "Hurricanes".
We call it winter, and we fish through them.
Clogged fuel filters?
Tow in winter?
Clowns...
It's not got a thing to do with weather. The more calm the better.
On Video!
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/video/video-matanuska-ferry-crashes-petersburg
Inside, Outside, Upside Down.
It's the weathers fault?
Hello all stations...
http://juneauempire.com/stories/051104/sta_ferry.shtml
North to Alaska you go North the Drunk is On!
http://bitterendblog.com/?p=1575
What interests me is what part of the towing hardware kept failing?? It must have been frustrating to all concerned, was it engineering miscalculation of required strength of materials required?
The great circle route is the shortest route to Dutch to Seattle, with changes probably due to weather concerns.
one report was than the shackles kept failing on tow vessel. as for why it was not anchored up in a safe location....? I believe big oil pays taxes to ak on all equipment used in (certain # of days) ALASKA. may have been trying to get that bea$t out of stat waters???
2% assessed value of all property involved in exploration or development of gas/oil..
Who do I have to convince to ground it outside the Ugashik district so that we could have a base of operations for hookers and pizza? Fish and Game could have the tower for counting, exclusive highliner lounge in that top house.
Four sets of heavy anchor chain on pins and shackles are still attached to area opposite the heliport. Shackles have to be rated for SWL and Max loading. No shock absorbing towlines were rigged? Where is the nearest port of refuge? I guess Old Harbor which is just around the corner will be filing damages. This whole thing is a joke; insurance or tax evasion take your pick.
Of course it's a joke; right on course, left to the rocks.
Drill baby, Drill?
She sells seashells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.
Old Man Ocean, how do you pound
Smooth glass, rough stones round?
Time and the tide and the wild waves rolling
Night and the wind and the long gray dawn.
Old Man Ocean, what do you tell,
What do you sing in the empty shell?
Fog and the storm and the long bell tolling,
Bones in the deep and the brave men gone.
Russell Hoban
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