JUNEAU, Alaska — Rear Adm. Thomas P. Ostebo, the Coast
Guard's 17th District commander, ordered a formal marine casualty investigation
on Friday into the
grounding of the drilling unit Kulluk on the southeast shore of Sitkalidak
Island, Alaska on Dec. 31. A formal marine casualty investigation is
convened when a vessel casualty has considerable
regional significance, may indicate vessel class problems, or is the best means
to assess technical issues that may have contributed to the incident.
The investigation will be led by a
Coast Guard investigating officer, with participation and support by the Bureau
of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the National Transportation Safety
Board as technical advisers.
In accordance with statute, the formal investigation will
probe every aspect of the incident, to include but not limited to the causes of
the incident, whether there is evidence that any failure of material was
involved or contributed to the incident or whether there is evidence of
misconduct, inattention, negligence of willful violation of the law.
Additionally, the investigation will
evaluate factors associated with the Kulluk and its support vessels, and will
determine as closely as possible:
• The cause of the accident looking at the full scope of all
towing vessels, towing equipment, procedures and personnel involved;
• Whether there is evidence that any failure of material
(either physical or design) was involved or contributed to the casualties, so
that proper recommendations for the prevention of the recurrence of similar
casualties may be made;
• Whether there is evidence that any act of misconduct,
inattention to duty, negligence, or willful violation of the law on the part of
any person holding a Coast Guard credential contributed to the casualties, so
that appropriate proceedings against the credential of such person may be
recommended;
• Whether there is evidence any person caused or contributed
to the cause of the casualties including the planning and subsequent review of
the Kulluk's tow plan;
The marine casualty investigation likely will take several
months to complete due to the extent and depth of its inquiry. The findings of
the investigation will position the Coast Guard to take appropriate remedial
action to address the factors that contributed to the casualty.