Q: A drama recently played out where a Coast Guard icebreaker cut a path in Bering Sea ice shelf for a Russian fuel tanker to deliver fuel to Nome, Alaska. Why weren't the people of Nome stocked up with fuel before this became an emergency? Also, why was a Russian fuel tanker taking fuel to Nome instead of an American fuel tanker?
—William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: A large storm froze the shipping lanes in November, canceling the final fuel delivery of the season, CNN.com reported. That required the Russian fuel tanker Renda to make the first attempt to supply fuel to an Arctic Alaska city through sea ice, according to CNN.com. The Renda followed the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy through almost 300 miles of ice before arriving off Nome, which has 3,500 residents, on Jan. 14. Ice was then allowed to build up around the Renda so it could transfer 1.3 million gallons of fuel through hoses, which was completed Jan. 19. Officials had thought about flying in the fuel, but it would have taken more than 300 flights, the Coast Guard told CNN.com. No Alaskan barges were available to make the trip, so officials contacted the Renda, which is based in Vladivostok, Russia, according to the Nome Nugget. "This is a story of significant accomplishment about Alaskans and Russians working side by side with the United States Coast Guard," said Peter Garay, captain of the Renda, according AlaskaDispatch.com, an online newspaper.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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