WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on the grounding Monday of Shell’s Kulluk mobile drilling unit off Kodiak Island, Alaska.

“The extreme winter weather and high seas in the Gulf of Alaska and subsequent grounding of the Kulluk is a horrible situation for any vessel. The heroism displayed by the U.S. Coast Guard, Shell personnel and other responders can't be overstated. The evacuation of the Kulluk crew, with no lives lost, was a model of the work the brave men and women of the Coast Guard do every day,” Murkowski said. “The focus now needs to be on securing the Kulluk and protecting local residents and the environment from potential fuel spills.”

The Kulluk grounded on the southeast side of Kodiak Island on Monday at 8:48 p.m. Alaska Standard Time.

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For further information, please contact Robert Dillon at 202.224.6977 or Robert_dillon@energy.senate.gov or Megan Moskowitz at 202.224.7875 or Megan_Moskowitz@energy.senate.gov.

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