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News and Media Releases

January 4, 2013 - Kulluk Response

Further aerial and onboard inspections by recovery teams assessing the Kulluk drillship today confirm the vessel remains firmly aground and stable. The teams also report there remains no sign of environmental impact and no leakage of the diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid stored in strong tanks onboard the vessel.
Coast Guard overflight of Kulluk

Coast Guard overflight of Kulluk

The findings of the teams’ assessments are being used to finalize recovery plans, currently being developed by the Unified Command team managing the incident response.

The Arctic-class Kulluk grounded on the southeast shoreline of Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, at approximately 9 p.m. local time on December 31, 2012, while under tow in heavy seas from Alaska to the U.S. port of Seattle, Washington State.

There has been no loss of life and no significant injuries as a result of this event, which is a maritime transit incident and not a drilling incident.  More than 600 people are engaged in the incident response.  Shell is working hard with the other parties in the US Coast Guard-led Unified Command to ensure a safe outcome and to protect the maritime environment in the vicinity of the grounded vessel.

Operational and media responses are being managed through a unified response team, led by the U.S. Coast Guard.