Royal Dutch Shell Kulluk - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

R Leo · #16 01-02-2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Ocean towing is a tough business, things like this happen all the time.

Amen.

link · #17 01-03-2013, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

It is not uncommon for rigs like this to be towed to warmer climes for refitting during the winter. This rig was being towed to Seattle when a storm broke out and waves hit 40 feet.

The Coast Guard was called in to help, but they found the situation too far gone to deal with, so the rig was cut loose from the towing barge. (I guess the CG really did help. They were smart enough to see how bad things were.)

All the people were removed, so it is just adrift. The only spill that will take place from this is the diesel that is in its' bunkers.

It is like any other ship in distress. It just is not powered and has to be towed.

This is not quite FUBAR, but it is close.

I read an article that stated the first tow vessel reported engine problems that they believe are due to poor fuel quality. The first tow vessel called the CG. The CG responded and attempted to provide a tow but according to the article, the CG got the tow cable wrapped around one of their props in heavy seas. Due to this they were not able to provide the assistance needed.

The drill platform has a reported 160,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board.

The bigger issue is once again the utter lack of capability to work safely in this fragile environment. The tools we use are guaranteed to fail and due to that it is only a matter of time until another large scale catastrophe occurs.

Quote:

This is not quite FUBAR, but it is close.

The inability to tow the vessel and that leading to it's becoming beached is FUBAR....

Hatterasguy · #18 01-03-2013, 06:47 PM

So link the last time you were trying to tow something in 40ft seas did you wrap a prop?

Botnst · #19 01-03-2013, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

So link the last time you were trying to tow something in 40ft seas did you wrap a prop?

LOL!

davidmash · #20 01-03-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

So link the last time you were trying to tow something in 40ft seas did you wrap a prop?

My questions would be:

Why were they towing in high seas in the first place?

If high seas can crop up at a moments notice, why were safe guards and contingency plans not in place?

If props can be fouled in high seas why were extra tow vessels not following?

Why was the fuel not off loaded?

Why did they not tow the platform earlier when storms are less likely?

I am sure there are more as other 'excuses' are offered.

Botnst · #21 01-03-2013, 07:31 PM

Same questions would be asked of any towing accident on the high seas.

davidmash · #22 01-03-2013, 07:42 PM

Are they being asked? I have not seen it.

Botnst · #23 01-03-2013, 07:46 PM

Guaranteed.

USCG will bring suit against the towing company as will every company that can claim injury (loss of drilling time, for example).

Hatterasguy · #24 01-03-2013, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmash

My questions would be:

Why were they towing in high seas in the first place?

If high seas can crop up at a moments notice, why were safe guards and contingency plans not in place?

If props can be fouled in high seas why were extra tow vessels not following?

Why was the fuel not off loaded?

Why did they not tow the platform earlier when storms are less likely?

I am sure there are more as other 'excuses' are offered.

Every time something breaks free that's what happens, that's why they have insurance.

No different than all the other ships that will break free and end up on a beach or sinking this year. Its called the ocean, **** happens.

Right now the oil company is probably fining the living hell out of the tow company. I remember hearing the fines for delaying rig operations start at $1m a day.

Hatterasguy · #25 01-03-2013, 09:38 PM

Oh and as always the USCG takes the brass balls award for trying to tow something like that in 40ft seas and lost a motor while doing it which is dangerous enough.

davidmash · #26 01-03-2013, 09:39 PM

Not really interested in insurance or fines. I'm more interested in if Shell and the tow company took all necessary precautions (and crap just happened) or if they did the bare minimum and hoped nothing would happen.

Hatterasguy · #27 01-03-2013, 09:42 PM

Shell contracted with a tow company to do a job, said tow company did it and something happened. Now the lawyers and insurance companies on both sides will sort it out.

Remember Shell is more pissed off than any environmental group because they have the most money in this venture. Putting a rig out of commission is probably going to cost them tens of millions.

No one does the "bare minimum" in that line of work, to much at stake.

davidmash · #28 01-03-2013, 09:44 PM

Just found this little tid-bit. If true Shell ought to be worrying about far more than tax problems.

Quote:

A Shell spokesman last week confirmed an Unalaska elected official’s claim that the Dec. 21 departure of the Kulluk from Unalaska/Dutch Harbor involved taxation.

Taxes?

Hatterasguy · #29 01-03-2013, 09:46 PM

Yeah its probably not registered in the states so can only stay in US waters for so long.

My buddy with his boat registered in the islands has this problem as well, the tax men are like rabid dogs in tracking down untaxed vessels.

davidmash · #30 01-03-2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Shell contracted with a tow company to do a job, said tow company did it and something happened. Now the lawyers and insurance companies on both sides will sort it out.

Remember Shell is more pissed off than any environmental group because they have the most money in this venture. Putting a rig out of commission is probably going to cost them tens of millions.

No one does the "bare minimum" in that line of work, to much at stake.

I was under the impression that the BP blow out was due to people not taking the required measures to protect the well. BP did less than the bare minimum. All the insurance money in the world will not bring back the lives that BP threw away due to greed and carelessness.

Companies due the bare minimum or less every day and hope they do not get caught. Most do not in my opinion because the practice still continues. If there were real penalties for flagrant disregard for the environment and human lives perhaps the corporate world would actually start to give a crap. So long as money is more important than lives nothing will change.