2 tow lines again secured to Shell drill ship
2 tow lines secured to Royal Dutch Shell drill ship, responders deciding where to move vessel
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Two towing vessels are again attached by lines to a Royal Dutch Shell drill ship in the Gulf of Alaska but responders have not decided where to move it.
The Kulluk, which has a bowl-shaped hull and no propulsion system, was used to drill in the Beaufort Sea this year.It broke free from two towing vessels Sunday in strong wind and waves.
Shell spokesman Curtis Smith says the weather subsided around midnight and first line was attached to the tug Alert at 12:45 a.m. Monday.
A second line was attached later Monday morning to the Aiviq, a 360-foot anchor handler.
The vessels are about 20 miles south of Kodiak Island.
Smith says responders are evaluating options for securing the vessel until the weather subsides.
