Shell Rig Kulluk’s Ride to China has Arrived

Lauren Rosenthal/KUCB
Shell’s Kulluk drill rig is almost ready to leave Alaska waters.
The heavy lift vessel that will take the damaged oil rig to Asia for repairs arrived in Unalaska on Sunday afternoon. The Kulluk has been in Unalaska for two weeks, waiting for the 700-foot Xiang Rui Kou to arrive from China.
Marine pilot Carter Whalen says it will take about seven hours to load the Kulluk onto the heavy lift vessel Tuesday.
After that, Whalen says work crews will spend a few days securing the Kulluk. The vessels are expected to leave Unalaska toward the end of the week.
Shell spokesman Curtis Smith says the company doesn’t have any comment on the operation at this time.