Kulluk Incident

The Kulluk, Shell’s unpropelled drilling unit, ran aground on Sitkalidak Island near Kodiak, Alaska, on December 2012, after severe winter storms caused the towing vessels to lose control of the vessel.

YUIT’s senior leaders and staff brought extensive crisis communications training and real-world experience to the agency before YUIT was formed, including experience supporting major oil and energy companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell and Hilcorp. During the Kulluk incident, Grant and Ingrid were part of the round-the-clock Joint Incident Command, helping manage communications throughout the unfolding crisis. They developed and issued frequent updates to keep employees, stakeholders, the media and the public informed as the situation evolved.

That experience continues to inform YUIT’s approach to crisis communications today: respond quickly, communicate clearly and transparently, provide accurate information, and maintain trust when it matters most.