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Tag: Anchorage

  • No oil leak from stranded rig

    No oil leak from stranded rig

    Stranded oil rig

    An oil rig stranded in severe storms near the island Kodiak in Anchorage, Canada. No oil is leaking from the rig.

    The drillship is called Kulluk, owned by Royal Dutch Shell. The US coastguard was concerned about any leak but overflights confirmed that no leak has occurred.

    Coast Guard Captain Paul Mehler said the Kulluk had 143,000 gallons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel and 12,000 gallons of other oil products on board.

    The grounding of the drillship, weighing nearly 28,000 gross tons and operated by Noble Corp, is a blow to Shell’s $4.5 billion offshore program in Alaska.

    The rig had been headed to Puget Sound for maintenance and upgrades when it broke away from one of its tow lines on Monday afternoon and was driven to rocks just off Kodiak Island that night. The 18-member crew had already been evacuated by the Coast Guard on Saturday because of risks from the storm.

    With winds reported at up to 60 miles (100 km) an hour and Gulf of Alaska seas of up to 35 feet (11 m), responders were unable to keep the ship from grounding, the Coast Guard said.

    Sean Churchfield, operations manager for Shell Alaska, could not explain why the Kulluk had been caught in the weather. “I can’t give you a specific answer, but I do not believe we would want to tow it in these sorts of conditions.”

    Susan Childs, emergency incident commander for Shell, believed that a significant spill was unlikely because of the Kulluk’s design, with diesel fuel tanks isolated in the center of the vessel and encased in very heavy steel.

    Shell is waiting for weather to moderate to begin a complete assessment of the Kulluk.

    Sources

    Independent

    Reuters

  • The Location of the 5th NRF Open Assembly

    Nestled between the Chugach Mountains to the east and the shoreline of Cook Inlet to the west, Anchorage is a unique combination of a wilderness and modern city life. Within just a few minutes from downtown, you can be alone in a forest or hiking in the mountains. Anchorage has many parks and bike trails and it is quite common to spot the moose and other wildlife that make their home in the city.

    Anchorage residents value their access to the wilderness and the abundance of outdoor activities including two spectacular marine environments: Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park. Both offer spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing as well as opportunities for fishing and other outdoor excursions.

    Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, with nearly half of the entire state population residing here! Though it is a young city by most standards – it was founded in 1915 – Anchorage has a rich and fascinating history that extends back to the original indigenous population. What you see today began as a tent city to house Alaska Railroad workers and has grown to encompass a vibrant and diverse population. The city is known for being the crossroads for air transportation, home of Alaska’s largest university, the University of Alaska Anchorage, as well as enjoying rich cultural diversity from the indigenous Alaska Natives to the immigrant populations who choose to make Anchorage their home.

    This mingling of cultures and traditions makes Anchorage known for great restaurants, world class museums and art, friendly people and stunning natural beauty.

  • The Fifth Open Assembly of the Northern Research Forum

    Anchorage, Alaska, 24 – 27 September 2008

    The 5th Open Assembly of the Northern Research Forum, Seeking Balance in a Changing North, will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, USA on September 24th – 27th 2008. The event is being organized by the Northern Research Forum, together with the 5th NRF Host Organizing Committee representing the Office of the Governor of Alaska, Office of the Mayor of Anchorage, US Arctic Research Commission, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Institute of the North, University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Native Science Commission, The Northern Forum, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Cinza Research, and Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau.

    The purpose of the Northern Research Forum is to promote intensive dialogue among members of the research community and a wide range of other northern stakeholders. This dialogue addresses the critical issues, problems and opportunities facing circumpolar peoples in the context of social and environmental changes and economic globalization. The Forum provides an open meeting for policy-relevant discussion on the role of research in addressing issues of sustainable development, community viability, peace and security, social and environmental policy, and the impacts of global change.

    The purpose of the Northern Research Forum is to promote intensive dialogue among members of the research community and a wide range of other northern stakeholders. This dialogue addresses the critical issues, problems and opportunities facing circumpolar peoples in the context of social and environmental changes and economic globalization. The Forum provides an open meeting for policy-relevant discussion on the role of research in addressing issues of sustainable development, community viability, peace and security, social and environmental policy, and the impacts of global change.