Inspection Continues of Grounded Shell Oil Rig

Waves crash over the conical drilling unit Kulluk where it sits aground on the southeast side of Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, Jan. 1, 2013. The crew of the tug Alert was ordered to separate from the Kulluk at approximately 8:15 p.m., Dec. 31st to maintain the safety of the nine crewmembers aboard the vessel.
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Updated: Fri 3:34 PM, Jan 04, 2013

KODIAK ISLAND, AK - Salvage experts are continuing their inspection of a grounded Shell drilling rig south of Kodiak Island in southern Alaska.

Photos taken by the Coast Guard of the Kulluk on Thursday show the rig is still in an upright position. Also on Thursday there was no visible evidence that the rig is leaking.

It ran aground during a fierce winter storm Monday night.

The Coast Guard says the Kulluk is carrying about 143-thousand gallons of diesel fuel and 12-thousand gallons of other petroleum products.

The rig is a key part of Shell's controversial Arctic oil exploration project.

 
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