Arctic drilling rig Kulluk broke loose, ran aground

Or why a tow cable couldn't handle the load they were using it for.

 

Tug sending a line to a ship at sea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Na8EY1irA

 

**** happens...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGyvZSnjVLc

 

Evidently the guy standing there didn't believe that (and it almost killed him). More evidence of sloppy work in the oil industry...

 

A towing company is NOT THE oil industry, or do you consider your local trucking company THE oil industry?

It was ridiculous for the tug captain to attempt to do what he did, and should have his license revoked.

The company man over-ruled the pusher, but whether the pusher signed off or not, he is probably the one who will get fired.

They should fire the company in charge of the towing ....

A minimum of 4 tugs should probably have been required. In non-hurricane conditions.

 

Bottom line is: Measures should have been in place.

It is an unacceptable screw up.

 

I also wondered if a backup tug should have been along with the value of the asset being towed. However, a tanker with more fuel aboard could suffer the same fuel contamination problem that put the engines of the Aiviq out of action, and there is no mandatory backup there.

 

One article said Shell towed the Kulluk to try and avoid a potential tax. Risking the weather cost more the way it went They also cut the expensive thrusters from the rig. Would the two 2000hp azipods have saved them money overall?

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...drilling-rig-being-towed-to-shelter-in-alaska

Shell’s drill vessel Kulluk is now in protected waters in Kiliuda Bay on the east side of Kodiak Island
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska...luk-towing-it-to-safe-harbor-for-inspections/

Photos of the tow
http://www.adn.com/2013/01/07/2745205/kulluk-towed-to-kiliuda-bay-1713.html