The 266 foot diameter Shell oil exploration rig Kulluk went aground in the Gulf of Alaska off Sitkalidak Island, Alaska. The rig was en route to Seattle for maintenance under the tow of the 360 foot long tugboat Aiviq when it encountered heavy seas and strong winds. The Aiviq suffered a power blackout when its engines failed. Both vessels went adrift some 50 miles from Kodiak Island. The crew requested assistance with a coast guard cutter and another tug dispatched to the scene. The tug Guardsmaan arrived and took the Aiviq under tow. Shortly afterwards, the weather caused the towline to separate. Several attempts to keep the towline connected failed as the vessels continued to drift closer to Kodiak Island. A total of 18 crewmen were airlifted off the Kulluk to safety by Coast Guard helicopters. The storm increased with 30 foot waves and 70 mph gusts as the Kulluk ran aground off shore. No reports of injuries.
Severe weather around Kodiak Island was continuing to impede salvage operations involving the Kulluk. Crews have not been able to directly assess the situation on the oil rig. A Coast Guard helicopter did a visual inspection of the Kulluk and found the hull intact and no signs of pollution released. The Kulluk had some 150,000 gallons of diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid and lubricating oil on board at the time of the grounding.
The Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley and an additional support vessel are standing by to assist as needed. Unified Command continues to implement contingency plans, including staging spill response equipment to the area. The priorities for Unified Command continue to be the safety of personnel and the protection of the environment. Nearly 600 people are involved in the response.
Related articles
- Coast Guard crews continue battling fierce storm to assist Kulluk near Kodiak, Alaska (uscgnews.com)
- Coast Guard: Crews Battle Fierce Storm While Assisting Disabled Aiviq and Kulluk [Incident Photos] (gcaptain.com)
- Shell drill ship runs aground on island off Alaska (miamiherald.com)
