The drilling rig Kulluk and its support vessels, the Aiviq, Alert, Guardsman, and Nanuq in the Gulf of Alaska continue to work towards shelter on Monday night.

The Alex Haley, since its return on Sunday night, continues on as the scene commander for the situation now only seven or eight miles from Sitkilidak Isand on the Southeast side of Kodiak Island. The Alex Haley had been relieved by the SPAR as the vessel made way back to Kodiak to repair a propellor fouled by a snapped towline from an earlier attempt at a tandem tow of both the Kulluk and her tug the Aiviq. The Alex Haley retook command after a quick trip to the Coast Guard Station outside of the city of Kodiak.

Earlier today, the Unified Command announced that the vessels would attempt to move the drill rig into Port Hobron on the lee side of Sitkinak Island. It was also announced that Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews from Air Station Kodiak were preparing to deploy several technicians aboard the Kulluk. The technicians were being transported to inspect the current condition of the towlines on the drilling unit. Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo, the Commander of the 17th District made a statement, “We have a brief weather window which provides the opportunity to get experts aboard the Kulluk to inspect the drilling unit and its tow set up,” said Ostebo. “They will provide key onsite information about towing issues or concerns and allow the Unified Command to develop contingency plans accordingly.”

Currently, the drill rig and its two two vessels have been tracking towards Sitkilidak Island for approximately three and a half hours. A little over an hour ago, the Aiviq changed course and backtracked along it earlier path. It is unknown if it was tethered to the drill rig during that maneuver. The Alert continues tracking toward the island. The Alex Haley continues about five miles to the west of the drill rig. The course direction took them far short of the entrance to Sitkinak Straits, through which they have to go in order to make purchase of Port Hobron.

Meanwhile, the Nanuq has changed its course and has been steaming back towards the trio doing 6.6 knots for the last hour and fifteen minutes. It is now within eight miles of the towing vessels Aiviq and Alert. The fourth tug, the Guardsman has departed the group and is now entering into Kiliuda Bay, which lies to the northeast of Sitkilidak Island. The Guardsman has been moving in a straight course that direction for the past two and a half hours.

Although the Alaska Native News was unable to verify the intentions of the vessel towing the drill rig, it is beginning to look as if the tow may be making a possible course change. The Aiviq is headed either toward Black Point or the Alex Haley. Its speed through the water at over eight knots indicates that it is no longer tethered to the drill rig.

The weather conditions in the area continue to be brutal. The strong southeast wind continues to batter the area and the vessels in it. A 963 Millibar low continues to circle to the south of the vessels’ location. It is expected to continue to blow 55 knots from the southeast through the night with rain and seas to 36-feet. The National Weather Service forecasts that the low should begin to weaken by Tuesday afternoon bringing down the wind to about 40 knots at that time. Seas should diminish to 36-feet and continue to fall to 18 feet by Tuesday evening.

Tracking for the vessels involved in the Gulf of Alaska Shell rig situation can be seen at marinetraffic.com. Click on these vessel names for individual tracking. Aiviq, Alert, Nanuq, Guardsman, and the Alex Haley.