After a handful of false starts and accidents, Shell’s multi-billion dollar bet on offshore Alaskan oil and gas  exploration was put on hold for 2014. And now a Coast Guard report claims the oil major prioritized financial interests over safety with its fateful decision to tow a drilling rig to Seattle for repairs on New Year’s Eve 2012.

The rig – named Kulluk – ran aground off Kodiak Island in high seas and stormy weather, and as suggested in the accident’s aftermath, it appears potentially negative tax implications influenced the decision to move the rig during suboptimal weather conditions.

“The Coast Guard investigation found that Shell decided to launch the ambitious winter operation in part to avoid paying millions of dollars in property taxes to the state of Alaska. Shell believed it would be liable for the tax if the vessel were still in Alaska waters on Jan.1,” McClatchy DC reported.

The Coast Guard report cited an email sent from the towing vessel Aiviq’s master to the Kulluk’s tow master on Dec. 22:

“To be blunt I believe that this length of tow, at this time of year, in this location, with our current routing guarantees an ass kicking,” the email stated.