Kulluk grounding

This was topic for some of our conversation last night at a New Years party. One of the cooks, who lives in Pensacola, off the drill platform Kulluk had left her in Dutch Harbor a little over a week ago. One of the Conley tug skippers was also at the party (he is also on "off" days). I believe that he has skippered the Tug Alert in the last year or so, but may not have been assigned to her currently.

Sort of interesting that the drill platform was in Dutch Harbor and not felt to be safe there, so taken to sea, by her tow / anchor setting ship with four 5400 HP Cats. Apparently there was a problem with the fuel on the Aliviq. Of course storms stir up the sediment and water in the fuel tanks, and can cause loss of power. I understand that all four of the engines went down, shortly after the tow line snapped.

Apparently another tow line (maybe two?) were gotten aboard (what a task in getting another tow line to the rig!) and power restored to the Aliviq. There was a CG cutter involved--and a tow line broke and tangled in the coast guard vessels running gear. The Alert (about 10,000 HP Azimuth drives) also secured lines yesterday: Apparently they were ordered by CG to let the drill rig ground for respect of the tug's crew safety.
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But this is the weather they were facing!

I think there are going to be a lot of questions about this whole episode, including the slow progress during the summer. It would appear as if drilling is out for some time--even if this does not turn out to be some sort of environmental disaster.
 
When they left Dutch longterm forecast was favorable, problem is reliable weather predictions in the Gulf beyond 24hrs is negligible unless there is a persistent high pressure in the regain, something seldom seen in winter.
Given the circumstances I think everything humanely possible was done, its a wonder there was no loss of life.
 
Absolutely true. The weather was good, when they left Dutch Harbor on the 21st--but by the 25th it had detiorated and up to Hurricane force and 50 foot seas by the 31st. In the best of conditions the tow could only reach 3 knots, and when they took Kulluk South in July of 2011, there were 6 escort tugs. This time only one specific vessel--with the standby of a second response vessel.

The drill rig had wintered in Captains bay, Dutch Harbor last winter. The question is why take her out in the middle of the winter, vs doing work up there (corporate decision?).

There were many delays which involved everything form ice, to whaling, to containment systems and permits which kept the ship from getting to her destination and drilling earlier in last year.

I guess it is sort of like the Bounty--why take a ship to sea when it is safe in a harbor, and there is some significant risk. Some one made that decision
 
While I don't know anything, logic would indicate that the people the made the decision don't know anything about what the Gulf of Alaska can dish out and how fast it can do it. Even in the summer, when it raises its ugly head, it aint pretty......Winter? Well, it doesn't get better as there is a huge contrast in temperature from the inland areas to the offshore areas making for incredibly powerful storms.
 
It is ironic, that one of the reasons for moving the vessel to Seattle was to replace the diesel run cranes aboard (original equipment from 1983 when she was built) with more modern and environmentally friendly electric cranes (not sure that all in all there would be much emissions saving because one still has to generate large amounts of electricity to run the cranes!

It was also ironic that the Coast Guard established a 900 meter "Safety Zone" to avoid any accidental ramming by vessels etc from July 1 to Dec 1 2012!

Hopefully she can be gotten off the beach intact....but it sounds like a job for "superman"!
 
thataway":3kbw6v83 said:
....but it sounds like a job for "superman"!
Click to expand...

AKA Salvage Chief?

I took a crane operators class with one of the guys on the Salvage Chief, and he tells a little different tale of why it did not get the New Carissa off the Oregon beach, which seems rather strange since it was able to pull the Exxon Valdez free.
 
TyBoo":19ffdwwl said:
thataway":19ffdwwl said:
....but it sounds like a job for "superman"!
Click to expand...

AKA Salvage Chief?

I took a crane operators class with one of the guys on the Salvage Chief, and he tells a little different tale of why it did not get the New Carissa off the Oregon beach, which seems rather strange since it was able to pull the Exxon Valdez free.
Click to expand...

I was literally under the Exxon Valdez in a drydock in San Diego with an Admiral I worked for in 19XX when we had a moderate earthquake. We both were nervous (him more than me) but we both stood under one of the big holes in the hull and figured that if it shook it off the blocks (about 5' high), it would fall around us.

Charlie
 
Marie: "The Kulluk is still in Alaska--I guess they still owe the taxes!"

Unfortunately some folks are going to have to risk their lives to do salvage, if they can get the rig clear. She looks well aground in the last photos. Of course we don't know the tide level or at what point she could be re-floated. Certainly going to be a challenge!
 
The Kulluk was pulled off the beach last evening (Sunday) and should be in Kiliuda Bay by late this afternoon, where she will be anchored as assessments are made. The news says no visible or IR detected leaks of petroleum products. It is a very strongly built rig!
 
tpbrady":2s5szc33 said:
Here's the current position of the Aiviq that is towing it. I'm assuming the Kulluk is close by. From the looks of the data they are anchored.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/defaul ... pe_color=3
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Lots of other tugs in the area also the 86m x 15m USCG Cutter Alex Halley is on it's way to the anchorage. I'm guessing that the next time they try to tow this someplace there will be many, many escorts and tugs around.
 
The Aiviq is also an anchor setting vessel, and so she would be setting the multiple anchors for Kulluk currently.

When Kulluk was moved previously there were several other escort vessels.

I wonder if Aiviq has centrifical fuel filters? They should Big diesel vessels have the same fuel problems that small vessels do, but usually have better solutions!
 
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