Divers assess hull of drill rig that ran aground
Officials review hull of Shell drilling rig with data gathered by divers, underwater vehicles
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Divers and remotely operated underwater vehicles have completed a review of the hull of a Royal Dutch Shell PLC drill barge that ran aground two weeks ago on a remote Alaska island.
A spokeswoman for the joint information center on the Kulluk (KULL'-uk) grounding, Amber Bassen, says information gathered by divers and the ROVs is being analyzed.
The Kulluk is a circular barge 266 feet in diameter with a 160-foot derrick.
The Kulluk drilled last year in the Beaufort (BOH'-fort) Sea. It was being towed to Seattle on Dec. 27 when it lost its tow line. Reattached lines also broke and the vessel ran aground New Year's Eve.
The drill vessel was refloated Jan. 6 and towed to Kiliuda (kill-OO'-dah) Bay, a sheltered bay on Kodiak Island.
