Shell Alaska has deployed a wide range of vessels in support of its 2015 exploratory drilling at the Burger Prospect in the Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast of Alaska. The fleet consists of two drilling rigs and 29 vessels, including anchor handlers, barges, ice management units, landing craft/crew boats, offshore supply vessels, oil spill response vessels, tankers and tugs. Here’s a look at some of those vessels:
Drilling Units
Above: Polar Pioneer
Noble Discoverer
Anchor Handlers (AHTS)
Tor Viking II
Aiviq
Not pictured: Ross Chouest
Barges
Arctic Challenger carrying the Arctic Containment System, the first operational subsea dome oil collection and processing unit.
Klamath, an oil spill response barge, and its supporting tug Guardsman.
Not Pictured: Tuuq, American Trader, Arctic Endeavor
Ice Management Vessels
Fennica
Not pictured: Nordica
Landing Craft/Crew Boats
Unalaq
Not Pictured: King-C
Offshore Supply
Harvey Sisuaq
Harvey Spirit
Not Pictured: Harvey Champion, Harvey Explorer, Harvey Supporter
Oil Spill Response
Nanuq
Tankers
Minerva Antarctica
Not Pictured: Marika
Tugs
Ocean Wind
Montana
Not Pictured: Benjamin Foss, Ocean Wave
All photos (c) Shell Alaska