Plan formed to free Kulluk

Kulluk response: Helicopter lands on rig for first time

USCG

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Kathrine Schmidt

 05 January 2013 21:18 GMT

Officials from the US Coast Guard and Shell said Saturday they have crafted a plan to tow the grounded Kulluk rig from a rocky seafloor off Alaska and move it about 30 miles to Kiliuda Bay for further inspection.

While the vessel has been deemed sound by naval architects, responders on a teleconference with reporters Saturday refused to specify details on when and under what conditions the operation to move the rig off Sitkalidak Island could go forward.

"The vessel has been deemed fit for tow," Sean Churchfield, operations manager for Shell Alaska, told the conference. "The exact timing of the recovery will depend on weather, tides and readiness."

The Unified Command, which also declined a request to release a copy of the towing plan to the press, did say it was…

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