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U.S. Coast Guard via AP
The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy approaches the Russian-flagged tanker vessel Renda Tuesday evening. Shifting ice has slowed the progress of the paired vessels. The ice tends to close in, cutting off the path between the two ships. When that happens, the icebreaker doubles back and makes a relief cut to take pressure off the tanker and open a pathway.
What a difference a day makes: After cutting through 53 miles of ice on Monday, a seafaring convoy trying to get fuel to ice-bound Nome, Alaska, made just 50 feet of progress through most of Tuesday.
"They were roughly in the same position" as Tuesday morning, U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Sara Francis confirmed to msnbc.com early Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, as we watch, there has been no real 'change up' in Renda's progress toward Nome since this morning," ship pilot Pete Garay told alaskadispatch.com from the Russian-flagged fuel tanker on Tuesday afternoon as the ice and strong currents prevented any progress.
The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is trying to break through ice for Renda, but the process can be tedious. Late Tuesday, they were still some 97 miles south of Nome, in northwest Alaska.
The two ships left Alaska's Dutch Harbor on Jan. 3 to deliver 1.3 million gallons of fuel to Nome, whose supplies could run out before the end of winter.
The convoy made progress on Monday. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
The convoy had hoped to make it to Nome by mid-January but the Coast Guard now says it cannot provide an estimated day of arrival.
Nome gets its fuel by barge but a November storm prevented its winter shipment from arriving before the annual sea ice formed. A fuel barge won't be able to make it in without icebreaker escort until June at the earliest, and Nome -- which has seen temperatures of minus 40 this winter -- could run out of heating oil by March.
One option is to fly in supplies, but that would add $3-$4 per gallon of heating oil or gasoline, which already cost $6 a gallon in Nome. There is no road access to the coastal town of 3,500.
STORY: Another Alaska town 'exhausted' by snow, rain
The operation is the first time a fuel ship is trying to reach any western Alaska community cut off by winter sea ice.
Locals are already being warned to stay away from the shoreline if the ships make it.
"We are extremely concerned that the icebreaking vessels offshore may cause fractures in shore fast ice near shore which could potentially pose a serious safety risk to anyone who may be on the ice," Lt. Nicole Auth, Coast Guard safety zone coordinator in Nome, said in a statement Tuesday. "We strongly encourage residents to remain on shore and avoid transiting on the ice as the ships transit in and out of the shore fast ice until the ice has time to re-freeze."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Slow and steady.You'll get there ....hopefully!
The major problem here is actually global warming. The sea ice north of Canada is now melting in the summer to the point that they previously mythical Northwest Passage is now navigable by ships without using ice breakers. This is a very much shorter route for most goods than using the Panama Canal or other routes. The problem is that this route has never been truly claimed by anyone, and now all three countries have claimed the waters as territorial. The Russians have gone so far as to plant flags on the ocean bottom via submarine to try to stake a claim. Pretty thin,but it's all they have.
The situation is that the US would like to be the owner of a part of the route because of its closeness to Alaska. Canada would like to own the rest. The issue is that it really boils down to who can patrol the region and who can actually facilitate shipping by breaking ice in spring and winter. Russia has a good-sized ice breaker fleet. Canada has some ice breakers. But the US is woefully unprepared since they had never planned on open water north of Alaska.
The US Coast Guard is currently trying to impress upon Congress that either they get off their duffs and fund at least a couple of modern ice breakers, or the US runs the risk of having to abandon any claim to the Northwest Passage. This is why they are keeping this article in the news so long.
Slow is a problem as well. If they get caught by a bad storm the movement of ice sheet can easily smash the tanker. They are not built to take this kind of abuse.
In June.
Chris, Nome is nowhere near the disputed waters of Northern Passage. But you are right, the stakes are high in this dispute as there is plenty of oil and fish in that area.
Hope they make it ok. Hold tight Nome, you've done it before.
Chris - max is right technically it would be farther north but good or bad you are right that the route is opening up and we (USA) need to get our act together. Hopefully we can ensure there will be nothing done to cause environmental impacts to a pristine area like that but we do need to be ready from an economical and future shipping standpoint -assuming all trends continue. Though I have little to no faith in Congress to figure this out, I hope their pea brains can stay focused long enough to understand and meet the demands of the Coast Guard. There will be cost to do this yes but it should be money well spent. We need to have a least one superbreaker of our own and maybe a couple more heavy breakers and another medium breaker to go with the Healy; or some variation of that to make up a modern icebreaker fleet. Once again this is another case of government bureaucracy and lack of foresight into the future and paying attention to trends. Can't always plan ahead and there's a balance to look for, but our government is way to reactionary and needs to be much more proactive. On another note I wonder if there is any money to be made doing this as a private venture??? Doesn't seem to be do to the nature of this but I do wonder if that would make any sense or not.
It is time.
This is one of a number of tankers from Russia and some Nordic countries that are specially built to handle heavy ice. That's why it ws contracted for the job.
In June 2014....
I bet if it were some 3rd world nation who hates us, we'd have a non-stop flow of supplies there the next day. Way to go! We can help everyone else, but we can't help ourselves.
Oh, puhleeze. Enough with the political platitudes.
Yep, we gave North Korea a bunch of fuel oil to kiss their lying a$$ a few years ago.. Our governments priorities are so screwed up it is becoming disgusting.. We give billions to countries that turn around and stab us in the butt like Pakistan and we cut spending on our elderly and poor..
go away son. the grown ups are talking here.
they could drive trucks out that far and get the fuel.
No roads = no trucks. Did you not read that. They can fly it to them but that costs 3 to 4 dollars more a gallon when prices are already 6 dollars a gallon...
Read the article before posting to eliminate the frustration of a failed post.
dmd-433801-- I think what Sauve meant was that if the ice is that thick, drive the fuel trucks out to the tanker and unload there. Might not be a bad idea since if they keep going I wonder if the hull of the tanker will hold up to this ice that immediately forms around it.
Isn't it pretty easy to make an ice road?
getting into the port is going to be a tough job; getting back out , rideing high in the water is going to be a bitch, good luck Ruskie sailors.
Raincheck - where do you suppose those trucks will come from? IRT are lower Alaska and Canada not northern. This would be even more costly than flying it into them. Further, I am no expert on this, but I am not sure that the distances over open ice without refuel would be possible. Since Dutch Harbour is an island ship is the best route...
Darren - Sure as long as the DOT approves and the trucks can make the distance on 300 gallons of fuel...not sure that is possible. Map Dutch Harbor - Nome Alaska.
Look worst case ERA will fly the fuel in, it is just going to cost more.
to Saxon-----they will ballast the ship with salt water when they leave--if they leave before break-up.
dmd-433801- a normal 18 wheeler even if they got less then 6 miles to the gallon on 300 gallons would make around 1800 miles in a straight shot, they are only 97 miles off shore, so I'm pretty sure its easily doable. You say they don't have trucks, how do the get it from the ship to the stations to distribute the fuel?
dmd-433801- a normal 18 wheeler even if they got less then 6 miles to the gallon on 300 gallons would make around 1800 miles in a straight shot, they are only 97 miles off shore, so I'm pretty sure its easily doable. You say they don't have trucks, how do the get it from the ship to the stations to distribute the fuel?
The US Coast Guard only has 3 ice breakers and oddly enough since they are government ships, i don't understand the "government isn't doing enough" comments.
Please complain how the governement spends too much money on useless things like "ice breaking ships" next and continue to confuse me......
WOW what a story !
It will be egg on our faces when a Russian super breaker has to come and rescue their tanker..
It is official, we are a third world country! The Russians have to take us into space and now they have to deliver our oil!
Not Oil, fuel. Further Russia is closer to Alaska then the Lower 48...Man is education lost on this age?
if you read it dose say fuel oil so in fact it is oil!
According to icecream and others, we can't do anything right and uses every kind of story, no matter what it is, to make a political reference. Bet my life that he doesn't even vote.Just complains
I am fascinated by this story. I have been following the storyline since they left Dutch Harbour. I know they will make it, good job you guys, on both ships, we are thinking about you.
Why bring the Dutch into this?
Dutch Harbor is a US port in the Aleutian Chain, Dutch Harbor, AK, is the starting point for the Deadliest Catch Fishermen show.
Wow, I wish these guys all the best! Great to see Russians and the United States Coast Guard working together to do the right thing!
Looks like the only way to get any oil to Nome would be via dog sled. Maybe the Iditarod mushers can carry some with them.
Seriously, here is hoping that the crews of both ships trying to cut their way to Nome stay safe. I for one, would not want to be where they are right now
This can't be happening. There are recent articles claiming that the ice is still shrinking. It must be shaving cream or Cool Whip that they are trying to push through to bring fuel to those towns.
E-killer: I guess knowing the difference between winter and summer is too much for you to grasp. Sea ice in the arctic summer is covering smaller areas each year, but the entire area is still iced over in winter. Got it?
Yeah, ekiller, sounds like they could sure use some of that fake global warming right now.
The major problem in this instance is that the icebreakers Polar Star and Polar Sea are stuck in port due to budget problems. Funding which has been requested for years to repair and refit these two vessels has not been granted until recently, but currently only the Polar Star is undergoing upgrades and the Polar Sea is slated for decommissioning. Funding for new breakers has not been granted. Using the Healy for this mission presents a problem as it does not have the same icebreaking capabilities as the other breakers. Back when the CG was part of the Dept of Transportation we at least had a snowball's chance of getting funding for maintenance of assets, Homeland Security obviously doesn't place icebreaking at the same priority level and the result is embarassing.
E-killer; global warming manifests itself with an increased level of moisture in the air mass over the artic and thereby generates thicker sea ice as a result of increased snowfall. The citizens of Cordova, AK can readily attest to the snowfall phenomenon.
Russia has built ten nuclear-powered icebreakers since 1957, most of which are still in use. Admittedly they have more use for them than we do, since practically all of their ports freeze up in the winter. But still, it's pathetic that all that our Coast Guard can send out is the little Healy, which looks more like an oversized tugboat to me.
...these Russian icebreakers are enormous: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arktika_class_icebreaker
It's more complicated than the overall reduction in sea ice. Read the story- *normally*, their oil is delivered in November, before any sea ice forms. That delivery didn't work out, so they are attempting to deliver it in the middle of winter. Even if their is less ice this January than a normal January, that's not the issue. The issue is that their is more ice this January then there normally is in *November*. For all I know, it's possible the the ice is normally so thick in January that they never would have attempted to deliver the oil this time of year at all.
How could there be sea ice in the arctic... Al Gore and slaves have been telling us that all the ice is gone and polar bears will die. 1+1=9 to the Libtard Left.
Truth is polar bear population is highest ever in recorded history, but enviro-kooks will call me a "denier" for stating science fact.
Show your facts.
Results from long-term studies show:
From polar bears international.com
TheAdrock13: That's not what the report said:
See: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/no-decline-polar-bear-population
Way to go Rob. Isn't it amazing that we have to share the world with people like TheAdrock13? Scary stuff isn't it.
He probably thinks cigs aren't bad for you either and that it's all "libtard hype".
Polar Bear International ?? Are you serious?? You believe that bull butter?? Hey give me a call I have a bridge you might want to buy.
Rob, that sounds suspiciously like facts and is based on science. That just makes the conservatives and deniers angry.
The problem is we only have one ice-breaker, and it is not exactly state of the art....iit's not a dinosaur either, but as Roadrunner allused to, the Russians have a few breakers that are much more effective than ours.
They need all that broken up ice for Vodka.
Drop some bunker busters from the air.... maybe that would work... Ha! Well.... Good luck.
Then you would have the animal rights group after you !
Jim: That was funny.... but most likely true!
The concussion would likely crush the tankers hull.
Like to see stories of cooperation and determination. But, where are the ice road truckers when you need them? Or, could large hover craft deliver the supplies?
Why not just put it on snow sleds and dog it in? Of course, that's going to take a log of dogs!!
Why not bring it in the summer months.
They were supposed to but the weather stopped that delivery and pushed it into the winter. Nothing you can do about mother nature flexing her muscles.
Jim earns the medal for most succinct and correct question today. Why not indeed. There was no summer delivery scheduled, from all stories I have read, the shipment that got delayed was supposed to come in in November! That is nowhere near summer in that part of Alaska. This community knows full well to get everything together in the summer for the coming winter. I know, having lived in central Alaska. Now there is the real possibility of a rupture of this tanker (is it even rated for this?) and a massive oil spill in the region. I am holding my breath....
Summer for them is different then summer for us. My god man have you thought to consider that someone who lives somewhere else might have seasons during a different time than you...
TheAdrock13.................we need more people like you!
You have that inate ability to make people feel smart.
50 feet in one day... they will never reach Nome.
They should get there right after the spring thaw.
Wasn't it just a week or so ago that there was an article about how the arctic is loosing sea ice?? Guess the Bering Sea didn't get that memo.
I wonder how many sled dogs it takes to pull 1.3 million gallons of fuel.
I have a better idea.. If getting supplies to gnome is so perilous, and costly, THEN DON'T LIVE THERE. MOVE
Thats your answer? Just move everyone? You must be a city dweller
Why should the price/cost of fuel oil be an issue at all!? You do what you have to do when it comes to saving the lives of fellow human beings...
If the ice-breakers can't make the necessary progress, then you fly it in! One way or another, the citizens of Nome should not be left there to freeze!
I believe the concern about cost is that with the increase from flying it in, some people who need it will no longer be able to afford it - $9 per gallon is a lot of money. Hence the desire to try and get it in at lower cost by sea. That said, it will be flown in if the sea-based effort fails.
Ok, let me think, I know !! MOVE !!!!
Ok, let me think, I know!! U were born with concrete under ur feet.
Some of us CAN live more 5 blocks from a Starbucks. Just an FYI for ya, Uptownandy
Sounds to me like they need more storage up there. If they had 1-2 years supply in storage at all times, then other people would not be putting their lives at risk and they could fill during the summer months when it is cheaper anyway. I used to buy 9 months of propane when I lived up north. It just made sense to put in more storage tanks and not have to worry about it.
@m-612920, I agree in theory. What u did for urself is feasible. How do you propose they store an extra 1.3 MILLION gallonsof fuel? Think about that for a sec. You had to store, what, 1,000 gallons of compressed gas? This is 1.3 million gallons of liquid fuel. On top of what they already store for 6-8 months. U r seriously suggesting they double their storage capability? The the environmentalists will have a hey-day and 6 years from now they might get it completed. For now, they need it shipped in.
Why do we have people? living in the Artic ? What does it cost us a year to keep them there? why don't the OIL companys supply Nome? Why is it a Russian oil tanker? ???
Shhhhh, Rule, people are gonna know you're drinking this early.
The ship being used is a Russian Flagged ship. Just like Cruiseliners flag there ships in other nations for tax purposes so do other industries. Surely I do not have to explain why companies do not want to pay the high taxes of the United States....
I've spent a great deal of time in Nome, there are natives but others as well just like a regular town. Many are fishermen. Russian trampers are very common in Ak. they are much less expensive to charter than American trampers. Russia has close ties to Ak. There are entire towns of Russians that moved there before the revolt and still keep the old ways. Everyone is missing the point here, the barge company is chartered to del. a load of fuel to None, they failed in Nov. it's up to them to del. it and they are trying to save a buck by breaking ice. Fuel can and always has been flown in. Nome has no wood so wood stoves are out of the question. It's a hard life there but some love it. I would rather tough it out in the lower 48!
If and only if the tankers captains would get there collective heads out of their asses, then they would already be there. Most of the frozen ship captains know when you are following a Ice Breaker. You don't fall back. You see in the picture that they, I mean the tankers have done just that. It will be their fault for this just because they are not knowledgeable. AT ALL......
I sure am glad normal people dont live there.These people know the risk's and most of them hopefully are Eskimo's and then they would just have to go what they would call Old school...you know Igloo's what have you.