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Stricken Shell oil barge towed away after being successfully refloated
Source: The Guardian
Stricken Shell oil barge towed away after being successfully refloated
John Vidal
guardian.co.uk, Monday 7 January 2013 13.22 GMT
The stricken Shell oil barge that ran aground near an uninhabited Alaskan island on new year's eve has been refloated and is being towed to a sheltered cove where the damage can be assessed.
The 28,000-tonne Kulluk now appears to be heading at 3.5km an hour on its way to Kiliuda Bay, about 40 miles from where it ran aground on Sitkalidak Island, according to the website marinetraffic.com. It is understood that is being towed at night by the Seattle-based tug Aiviq, with seven other ships in attendance.
The Kulluk is reportedly carrying more than 140,000 gallons (530,000 litres) of diesel. The Arctic-class vessel, which has no engines of its own, broke its heavy towing lines in storm-force winds on its way for maintenance in Seattle.
"Following this initial step forward (of refloating), we will continue to remain cautious while we assess the Kulluk's condition," said Martin Padilla, incident commander. "We will not move forward to the next phase until we are confident that we can safely transport the vessel," said the latest communication from the taskforce coordinating the rescue.
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John Vidal
guardian.co.uk, Monday 7 January 2013 13.22 GMT
The stricken Shell oil barge that ran aground near an uninhabited Alaskan island on new year's eve has been refloated and is being towed to a sheltered cove where the damage can be assessed.
The 28,000-tonne Kulluk now appears to be heading at 3.5km an hour on its way to Kiliuda Bay, about 40 miles from where it ran aground on Sitkalidak Island, according to the website marinetraffic.com. It is understood that is being towed at night by the Seattle-based tug Aiviq, with seven other ships in attendance.
The Kulluk is reportedly carrying more than 140,000 gallons (530,000 litres) of diesel. The Arctic-class vessel, which has no engines of its own, broke its heavy towing lines in storm-force winds on its way for maintenance in Seattle.
"Following this initial step forward (of refloating), we will continue to remain cautious while we assess the Kulluk's condition," said Martin Padilla, incident commander. "We will not move forward to the next phase until we are confident that we can safely transport the vessel," said the latest communication from the taskforce coordinating the rescue.
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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/07/stricken-shell-oil-barge-towed-alaska