Crews from Vitus Marine LLC and the Russian tanker Renda worked together Monday afternoon to begin pumping fuel from the Renda to storage tanks in Nome. More than 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products began flowing from the tanker just before 5 p.m. (Courtesy Stacey Smith/Vitus Marine LLC) |
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
Fuel is flowing to the city of Nome, as a Russian tanker began offloading more than 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products Monday evening in a breakthrough winter fuel delivery to the iced-in port. Earlier Monday, crews worked on laying out two hoses from the tanker. One of those hoses was hooked up shortly before sunset at about 5 p.m., and the Renda began pumping gasoline into Nome’s storage tanks.
Those tanks were supposed to be filled last year, but winter storms kept barges from making their final deliveries.
Vitus Marine LLC, the company which contracted the Renda to make the fuel delivery through 300 miles of sea ice with help from the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy, says the second hose -- which will transfer home heating fuel -- is scheduled be on line soon.
Offloading all of the fuel from the Renda could take about 48 hours.
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