Coast Guardsmen continue Nome fuel preparations

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Charly Tautfest | Coast Guard Forces Valdez personnel train on snow machines in the Nome harbor Jan. 12. The Forces Valdez personnel are preparing to enforce the safety zone during the fuel transfer from the Russian tanker Renda. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen)  

NOME, AK, UNITED STATES

01.11.2012

Courtesy Story

U.S. Coast Guard District 17 PADET Kodiak

NOME, Alaska -- The Coast Guard Cutter Healy and Russian tanker Renda are experiencing dynamic ice conditions and the transit to Nome is slow but continuous. The vessels are approximately 100 miles from Nome as of Wednesday evening, Jan. 12.

Sitnasuak Native Corporation of Nome signed a contract with Vitus Marine LLC to deliver 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products to Nome via Renda around the second week of January. If successful, this will mark the first time that petroleum products have been delivered by sea to a Western Alaskan community through ice covered waters.

"This has been and continues to be a highly orchestrated effort between all stakeholders to ensure mission success" said Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, District 17 commander. "As we have done for more than 220 years, the Coast Guard is dedicated to ensuring the safe and secure transfer of maritime commerce. The Healy, our nation's only operating polar ice breaker, and its crew are committed to upholding our long history of service to the residents of Alaska."

• Date Taken: 01.11.2012
• Date Posted: 01.13.2012 13:06
• Story ID: 82376
• Location: NOME, AK, US