Multimedia Release: Coast Guard conducts overflight of Kulluk tow from Kiliuda Bay, Alaska
[B]Editors note: To view video or high resolution photos please click on the images below[/B]
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The tugboats Corbin Foss, Ocean Wave and Lauren Foss, escorted by the tugboat Aiviq begin the tow of the conical drilling unit Kulluk from Kiliuda Bay, 48 miles southwest of Kodiak City, Alaska, to Dutch Harbor for further transport to Asia, Feb. 26, 2013.
The tug warrior, tugboat Guardsman and vessel Nanuq were also on scene to assist.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.
The Aiviq (blue hull) escorts the tug boats Corbin Foss, Ocean Wave and Lauren Foss as they tow the conical drilling unit Kulluk from Kiliuda Bay near Kodiak Island, Alaska, Feb. 26, 2013.
The Kulluk is being towed to Dutch Harbor where it will be loaded aboard a heavy lift vessel for transport to Asia.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.
The tug boats Corbin Foss, Ocean Wave and Lauren Foss begin the tow of the conical drilling unit Kulluk from Kiliuda Bay near Kodiak Island, Alaska, Feb. 26, 2013, with the tug Guardsman, tug Warrior, Nanuq and Aiviq on scene to assist.
A safety zone has been established around the Kulluk and an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew overflew the area to confirm there were no security concerns.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.
I only have access to FREE AIS, so its pretty random in Alaska.
I believe that the USCG is doing daily fly overs. I wish they’d post a position every day. The press and the eco-bloggers seem to be asleep again.
When looking at the last fly over pictures I noticed that the Foss tugs were both producing a lot of black smoke (maybe that’s why they have those peculiar exhaust stack extensions), but the OCEAN WAVE exhaust was completely clean.
[QUOTE=rshrew;101298]You could prob find them if someone has a subscription to the marine exchange of Alaska’s ais tracking system. I heard they were making 3kts.[/QUOTE]
3 kts? Seem like they would have been better off with the Aiviq and one other tug just to keep another wire up for insurance. Maybe they didn’t want the publicity.
3 kts? Seem like they would have been better off with the Aiviq and one other tug just to keep another wire up for insurance. Maybe they didn’t want the publicity.[/QUOTE]
I read somewhere that they aren’t doing it because the USCG still hadn’t figured out why the lost power but who knows
[QUOTE=commtuna;101351]Soooooo Im curious, what exactly will the fancy Aiviq be doing this year if Shell wont be drilling? Sitting in Seattle collecting dust?[/QUOTE]
Not just the Aiviq, there are several Choest and Harvey Gulf boats without jobs now, since they pulled the plug on the 2013 drilling season up there. Anybody heard what all they vessels will do. Head back to the GOM?
This is sort of off topic but I am curious how the Alaskan offshore drilling works .
Why is Shell the only company involved to date with exploration? Don’t the other large companies want to be involved? Exxon , Phillips who is in the North Sea and Chevron?
If there is so much promise there, why no others attempting this adventure? Is the Alaskan Drilling set up like Blocks in the GOM where companies bid on them or is Shell the only high bid for the area?
I just can’t understand why Shell is the only one up there attempting this? Are they considered the “best” in this tough environment?
It would appear the failure of last season answers your question already. It’s a whole different world up there. Harsher and way more red tape. The cost of doing business up there is much more then the GoM, the risks are also greater and I guess people don’t want to deal with the headache of it. I would imagine a company like BP isn’t up there for obvious reasons. Can you imagine the backlash if they announced they would be drill up north after the Deepwater accident?
[QUOTE=rshrew;101403]I see that ship jordie revolution is headed to Alaska for core sample drilling so you are prob not far of the mark as to what they will be doing.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=commtuna;101351]Soooooo Im curious, what exactly will the fancy Aiviq be doing this year if Shell wont be drilling? Sitting in Seattle collecting dust?[/QUOTE]
Damned good question sir…
Based on what I can see of the vessel, it ain’t going to be of much use in the GoM for Shell.
[QUOTE=c.captain;101405]Damned good question sir… Based on what I can see of the vessel, it ain’t going to be of much use in the GoM for Shell.[/QUOTE] Perhaps Shell can loan her to Kings Point. I know, this must really please you. You’re welcome ~
Shell could probably make good use of AIVIQ at Sakhalin Island, Newfoundland, Greenland, The Falklands, the north coast of Norway, or in some other frontier area with deep water ports and long supply runs.
It would be best if Shell could work the bugs out and prove AIVIQ’s capabilities through successful hard use in an extreme environment somewhere else so that AIVIQ and its crews will be proven harsh environment offshore oil support veterans when she comes back to the US Arctic.
