Plan in Place to Tow Grounded Drill Rig

Recovery effort depends on weather conditions

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By Lacie Grosvold

Story Created: Jan 5, 2013 at 4:55 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2013 at 5:27 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - The team in charge or recovering the 266-foot Kulluk drilling rig grounded off the coast near Kodiak say they have a plan to get the vessel off the rocks.

At a press conference Saturday, representatives from Shell and the U.S. Coast Guard outlined a plan to tow the rig from the east side of Sitkalidak Island 30 miles into Kiliuda Bay. They haven't released a timeline, saying it's contingent on weather.

Saturday, they were hooking up the main tow line to the Kulluk. They won't be towing it yet, but they'll be testing the tow lines for the rig starts moving.

Coast Guard Captain Paul Mehler III said they're still waiting for equipment to arrive before they can start the tow. In the meantime, teams have staged equipment for the tow

This news comes after a tsunami warning for Southeast Alaska Friday. The warning fell short of Sitkalidak Island, but yhr operations manager for Shell, Sean Churchfield, said they were vigilant of the warning anyway.

 

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johnson said on Saturday, Jan 5 at 6:27 PM

magone marine here we go!!!! again

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huh said on Saturday, Jan 5 at 7:56 PM

but yhr operations manager for Shell

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