By Jennifer A. Dlouhy: Published 10:53 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2012
WASHINGTON – Shell’s plans to search for oil under Arctic waters this summer – already delayed by thick ice clinging to Alaska’s shores – may face another setback as the company makes Coast Guard-ordered improvements to a barge designed to carry emergency response equipment.
During evaluations of the Arctic Challenger barge, still in its final stages of construction in a Bellingham, Wash., shipyard, the Coast Guard found problems with electrical and fire suppression systems that must be fixed before the agency will issue a required certificate of inspection.