Arctic drilling rig Kulluk broke loose, ran aground

We need to cut spending to match revenue.

 

Bit late for that. Look at the size of that mountain. Impossible to level it without higher tax or default. I suspect the the US will default.

 

> The plan is to take the Kulluk to a safe, protected refuge

I wonder why they didn't do this before the bad weather and accident. Maybe it's cheaper to just let accidents happen and then have the Coast Guard and Army sort it out. Oh, I see - avoiding taxes is why they were in a big rush.

http://www.adn.com/2013/01/05/2743182/kulluk-salvage-efforts-move-ahead.html

 

gCaptain is following the Salvage.

http://gcaptain.com/idiots-launch-fast-rescue-craft/


Interesting that the ultra modern Supertug who originally lost the rig , lost engine power because seawater got sucked into her fuel tank vents. Either bad design or poor operation.

 

Nice link - do all of these people train together?

 

What people ?

 

The people doing the fast rescue launch and the people involved in moving the Kulluk.

 

Well...Hmmm

Hard to say.

The supertug was a very special vessel. I would expect that the crew were proffesional with substantial sea time doing their job.

The situation they faced was very difficult. Even the US Coast Gaurd Cutter who came to the rescue got a tow line wrapped around its propellor, had to abandon its mission and return to safety under one engine

Dont know about the Ships lifeboat crew. The mistake was so basic that I suspect they were cadets training.

 

> The situation they faced was very difficult.

I agree, stay out in rough weather with an unproven towing combination or risk paying taxes - difficult choice (but certainly not made by the crew). If I had to guess, I'd say management and engineering were the primary mistake makers.

 

Towing huge objects is done all the time. The plan was approved by the Coast Guard.

Better to look for the procedural error or a design defect that caused the accident..

 

Big operation-- The weak link in the chain was again "For the want of a nail in the shoe," (Fuel tank air vents). Bet they'll modify that set up. I've often seen tank vents installed on the sidewall of the cockpit well on pleasure boats. Was never my choice .

 

Possible that the crew did not prepared for heavy weather and secure the vents.

Possible that the design was defective.

Contaminating 80 percent of your tankage on a new, pro staffed supertug seems impossible.

Only the accident report will reveal the deficiency.

 

I'm interested in why the shackle or tow lines broke (but then I'm an engineer).

 

Read the G Captain forum posts on the accident.

Towing is complex with many pieces in the tow line.

To a tow specialist the cause may be obviuos...for a guy like me that only tows a big fish on a hook behind the boat , its mysterious.

 

For instance. When a tow cable is overloaded...which component is designed to break first.