Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(112,167 posts)
Tue Jul 7, 2015, 05:16 PM Jul 2015

Shell’s Arctic icebreaker damaged in Alaska

Source: Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — Shell’s drive to resume Arctic drilling this summer has hit another speed bump, with the discovery of a hole in the hull of an ice management vessel meant to safeguard the company’s operations in the Chukchi Sea.

The MSV Fennica was on its way from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to the Chukchi Sea on Friday when a ballast tank leak was discovered by crew members and a certified Alaska marine harbor pilot on board the vessel.

The 22-year-old icebreaker has since returned to the port in Dutch Harbor and is being examined by marine experts, but it is uncertain how quickly the breach in its hull can be repaired and whether this will delay Shell’s hopes to begin drilling an oil well in the Chukchi Sea later this month.

The Fennica is just one of the 29 vessels in Shell’s Arctic fleet, which includes another icebreaker, the MSV Nordica, and at least two other anchor handlers tasked with helping to keep ice away from the company’s drilling site. But Shell’s contracted Fennica is unique in that it is carrying a critical piece of the company’s Arctic containment system: a capping stack designed to fit on top of a damaged well in case of a blowout or other emergency.

Read more: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/07/07/shells-arctic-icebreaker-damaged-in-alaska/#33766101=0

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Shell’s Arctic icebreaker damaged in Alaska (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jul 2015 OP
Good. nt Mnemosyne Jul 2015 #1
Roger that. nt jomin41 Jul 2015 #2
starting already with the f ups and we're supposed to trust you to punch a hole in the oil balloon Romeo.lima333 Jul 2015 #3
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAA montanacowboy Jul 2015 #4
Won't be needed in a few years. nt awoke_in_2003 Jul 2015 #5
Damn, Paul Watson is good. Made it look like an accident. (n/t) Jim Lane Jul 2015 #6
 

Romeo.lima333

(1,127 posts)
3. starting already with the f ups and we're supposed to trust you to punch a hole in the oil balloon
Tue Jul 7, 2015, 05:30 PM
Jul 2015

underneath that ecological balance

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Shell’s Arctic icebreaker...