USCG holding hearing on Kulluk grounding

As part of its investigation into the grounding of the Kulluk, Shell’s Arctic floating drilling platform, the U.S. Coast Guard is holding a hearing in Anchorage to gather testimony on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Kulluk ran aground in the northern Gulf of Alaska during a severe storm on Dec. 31 while under tow from Dutch Harbor to the U.S. West Coast. The vessel was subsequently refloated and has since been transported to a Singapore shipyard for repair.

In early January Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District, ordered a formal marine casualty investigation of the Kulluk grounding. The Anchorage hearing, which starts at noon on May 20 and may continue through the end of the month, will call witnesses from the Coast Guard, Shell, Noble Corp. and other organizations, the Coast Guard said. Noble Corp. was operating the Kulluk for Shell. At his point it is not certain how long the entire investigation will take to complete, but a major investigation of this type typical extends over several months, Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley told Petroleum News. The result of the investigation will be a report with findings on the incident and with recommendations for potential future actions for improved marine safety, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard has previously said that the investigation results will be made public.

—Alan Bailey