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Kulluk Response | Shell Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, January 2, 2013 – An assessment team safely boarded Shell’s Kulluk drillship to evaluate its condition after it ran aground in heavy seas in Alaska on December 31.  The team spent several hours onboard and was able to confirm earlier indications from multiple flyovers by the US Coast Guard that the Kulluk remains firmly aground and is stable, based on the inspections performed to date.  The team also confirmed there are no signs of environmental impact, and there has been no leakage of the low-sulphur diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid stored in strong tanks onboard the vessel.

Shell’s Arctic-class drillship, the Kulluk, grounded on the southeast shoreline of Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, at approximately 9 p.m. local time on December 31, 2012, while under tow in heavy seas from Alaska to the U.S. port of Seattle, Washington State. 

There has been no loss of life and no significant injuries as a result of this event, which is a maritime transit incident and not a drilling incident.  More than 600 people are engaged in the incident response. 

Shell is working hard with the other parties in the US Coast Guard-led Unified Command to ensure a safe outcome and to protect the maritime environment in the vicinity of the grounded vessel.

Operational and media responses are being managed through a unified response team, led by the U.S. Coast Guard.