Fuel delivery to icebound Alaskan town complete
The tanker Renda transfers fuel to the northwestern Alaskan town of Nome on Monday.
January 19th, 2012
08:56 PM ET

Fuel delivery to icebound Alaskan town complete

A Russian tanker on Thursday morning finished delivering 1.3 million gallons of fuel to icebound Nome, Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The tanker Renda, anchored more than a quarter-mile off Nome following a 11-day journey with an icebreaking Coast Guard ship, began transferring the fuel through hoses to an onshore fuel storage facility on Monday.

A company in Nome - a town of 3,500 people - contracted the Renda to deliver the fuel after ice formed over the Bering Sea following a ferocious November storm that prevented the last delivery of the season via barge.

The Renda and the Coast Guard cutter Healy left Dutch Harbor in southern Alaska's Aleutian Islands on January 3, and the Healy escorted the Renda through almost 300 miles of Arctic ice, arriving off Nome on Saturday night.

The voyage was the first-ever attempt to supply fuel to an Arctic Alaska settlement through sea ice.

"I am extremely proud of the way our partners and the marine industry worked as a collaborative team along with the Coast Guard to get the needed fuel to the residents of Nome," Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, Coast Guard District 17 commander, said in a Coast Guard news release Thursday.

Nome had enough fuel to last until about March, but the delivery was attempted now because it would have been more difficult then, Coast Guard Capt. Craig Lloyd, who is coordinating the mission, said earlier.

Officials considered flying in fuel, but it would have taken more than 300 flights, each carrying 4,000 to 5,000 gallons, to meet the town's needs, said Jason Evans, chairman of Sitnasuak Native Corp.

The Healy's crew will now work on freeing the Renda from ice that intentionally was allowed to build around it so that hoses could reach the tanker. The Healy will then lead the Renda, perhaps starting on Friday, through more than 360 miles of sea ice to the open Bering Sea, the Coast Guard said.

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Filed under: Alaska • U.S. Coast Guard • Weather • Winter weather
soundoff (9 Responses)
  1. Trapper John

    When in Nome, do as the Nomans do!

    January 19, 2012 at 9:22 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Bob

    Those hosers!

    January 19, 2012 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Warrior

    Cold as hell could you live in 60 mile an hour winds and well below zero!

    January 19, 2012 at 10:49 pm | Report abuse |
  4. FROTHY THE THE SNOWMAN

    Where is Philip and Joey? I have not seen them,they must be cuddling.

    January 19, 2012 at 10:53 pm | Report abuse |
  5. SKILLED KNOWLEDGE

    THIS IS GODS COUNTRY & KEEP YOUR ATHIEST OPINION IN THE CLOSET WITH THE REST!

    January 20, 2012 at 8:17 am | Report abuse |
  6. SKILLED KNOWLEDGE

    THIS IS GODS COUNTRY

    January 20, 2012 at 8:18 am | Report abuse |
    • Mohamed

      Let go of it, and Show me the money! Winning $50 right now would feel like winning the lrtteoy. I've been given food at churches, county programs, and good ole' friends and neighbors. What I would like to do with $50 isn't go to the grocery store since there are plenty of places giving out free food right now to those in need, but rather I'd like to start the debt snowball and eliminate my smallest debt of $54 dollars. Then I can put $15 a month toward my next highest debt of $545. Currently I can't afford to pay any of my debts, but I can afford to pay my mortgage, utilities, minimal food and gas for my vehicle, and when I can't afford the gas I get on my bike and ride. My encouragement for you is until your ready to give up spending money on non-essentials and live like a pauper you'll never know the true value of $50. I used to let Mastercard be my master , well it still is because I'm still in debt but I want to be master over my money someday and I know you do too. So be master of your money and make that decision to pay off your debtors and free yourself! You'll be glad you did.

      December 31, 2012 at 10:31 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Karen

    Thanks Russia!

    January 20, 2012 at 11:19 am | Report abuse |
  8. Rita

    your god dont give a sh!t about his country.

    January 20, 2012 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
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