Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Relief Nears Nome as U.S. Icebreaker Opens Sea Lane

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    Since Nov. 1, Nome, Alaska, has been cut off by sea ice of various thicknesses. The last scheduled delivery of heating fuel, gasoline and diesel by barge had to be canceled due to the ice. This left the community short of supplies for the winter.

    The Goal

    Battling sea ice and temperatures well below zero, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy is slowly making its way north from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Following the ship closely is the MV Renda, a Russian tanker chartered to transport 1.3 million gallons of fuel to the ice bound community of Nome.

    The mission was delayed late last week when the Renda suffered an engineering failure after departing Dutch Harbor. It was forced to return for repairs before resuming its voyage. MV Renda has a double hull and is rated to perform in sea ice as thick as four feet.

    Progress

    The convoy has made its way through about 110 miles of ice with an additional 190 miles to go. The Healy will convey the tanker to about one-half mile from Nome where the water becomes too shallow for the cutter. The Renda will then force its way through the remaining sea ice to just outside the harbor at Nome. A thick ridge of ice across the mouth of the harbor prevents the tanker from moving any closer.

    Arrival Plan

    The convoy is due to reach Nome on Jan. 9 or 10. On arrival, the tanker may have to offload its cargo using hoses stretching from the ship to shore facilities. Officials from various government agencies and supplies for any potential spill cleanup are on hand for the arrival.

    Historic First

    The USCGC Healy is the United States' only operational polar icebreaker. It is based out of Seattle and its primary mission is research in the Arctic and Antarctic. If this mission is successful, it will be the first fuel delivery to the western Alaska coast by sea during the winter.

     
    • Linda  •  Arlington, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      I am really glad to see that Russia & the US can actually work together. Alaska weather is some of the harshest & these people are in desperate need.
      • UStel 4 mths ago
        For all you retards that did not understand this story. This is a Russian flagged tanker that was chartered, which means their services were paid for. This is not a freebie and has nothing to do with the Russian government
      • Kevin 4 mths ago
        Easy now.
    • John  •  Houston, Texas  •  4 mths ago
      See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.
      • wawa 4 mths ago
        Don't forget after all Russian are white... lets work together...
      • flrbgnky 4 mths ago
        Don't forget money talks. The Russian ship was chartered by the US.
      • Jonathan 4 mths ago
        'See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.' The Russian barg is making a commercial delivery of oil. Capitialism Free market economics works! Communism and Socialism do not have any place at the table with freedom. So just forget this idea of 'working together'
    • Just do it  •  4 mths ago
      Thank you Russia!
      • Jonathan 4 mths ago
        'See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.' The Russian barg is making a commercial delivery of oil. Capitialism Free market economics works! Communism and Socialism do not have any place at the table with freedom. So just forget this idea of 'working together'
      • A Yahoo! user 4 mths ago
        I know,its horrible,russia goes capitalist,america is now socialist or communist,a total disgrace to the founding fathers of this country.Its great russia could look past the last 20 years but they know alaskans are good people,unlike the washington dc crowd.It is kinda stupid they waited so long to take delivery of the necessary amount of fuel for the winter.
      • William 4 mths ago
        Yahoo User... Explain to me exactly how we are Communist, or socialist, when we have free enterprise here in America??
    • P.  •  4 mths ago
      Yea -- Russia and US working together for once.
      • WISEGUY 4 mths ago
        I guess you never heard about WWII or the International Space Station.
      • Jonathan 4 mths ago
        'See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.' The Russian barg is making a commercial delivery of oil. Capitialism Free market economics works! Communism and Socialism do not have any place at the table with freedom. So just forget this idea of 'working together'
      • BigBang 4 mths ago
        #$%$ Jonathon! The U.S. and Russia are doing hundreds of things together, everyday! It's people like you that help keep the U.S. at war.
    • Deb  •  4 mths ago
      Maybe I'm a sap, but I love this story. Instead of sitting around bickering some people figured out what needed to happen, and made it happen. For the sake of the people in Nome, I hope the make it.
      • Stan 4 mths ago
        I agree, it is amazing that when a disaster happens anywhere in the world we are expected to be the first to respond, but when it is time to help our own out come the "haters" (as the Libs like to say). And yes it was a Russian ship, that we chartered. So what! These are Americans, up to their eye-balls in snow, and their fuel is running out, Oh wait, maybe we can give them some food stamps and make it all better........
      • Jonathan 4 mths ago
        'See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.' The Russian barg is making a commercial delivery of oil. Capitialism Free market economics works! Communism and Socialism do not have any place at the table with freedom. So just forget this idea of 'working together'
      • Jonathan 4 mths ago
        'See, we can work together. Well done, indeed.' The Russian barg is making a commercial delivery of oil. Capitialism Free market economics works! Communism and Socialism do not have any place at the table with freedom. So just forget this idea of 'working together'
    • skullshocker@yahoo.com  •  Fairbanks, Alaska  •  4 mths ago
      I live in Fairbanks Alaksa. My GF works for Warbelows Air which takes supplies, including fuel to Nome. The reason for the Tanker taking fuel up is because the only other way to get it there is by flight, very small amounts of fuel at a time. This is a plan to get a larger amount of fuel at a time there, meaning a little more reasonable price per gallon. The people are not cut off from any means of supplies, they have a airport that can handle larger planes, military bases all around the state, and surrounding villages. They also have no trees so anything burnt for heat has to be brought there. But it is nice to have a reason to bring countries together in a common goal, even if it's for financial gain.
    • Me  •  Evansville, Indiana  •  4 mths ago
      aw right US and Russian cooperation-COOL
    • Thomas  •  Modesto, California  •  4 mths ago
      Go Git'em Coasties ! My ship CGC Minnetonka did SAR work in the 1964 earthquake that flattened Anchorage.
    • Lisa Whitworth  •  Williamstown, Kentucky  •  4 mths ago
      Unless youhave lived in Alaska you have no idea what it is like up there in the winter , I lived in Galena for two years as a teenager. It is beautiful, but also very rugged. Most towns have no roads in to such cities. Most stuff has to be shipped in by plane or on a barge in summer. they are cut off from the world. most of the remarks come from people who live in the lower 48. You need to send all your good thoughts to all the people in Alaska .
    • SuperG  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 mths ago
      Good luck to all involved, and thanks to the Russians for helping us out.
    • KnightOwl3  •  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  •  4 mths ago
      The only U.S. polar icebreaker? We have 2 heavy-duty USCG icebreakers, the Polar Star and the Polar Sea. Both build in the late 70's, but even more powerful then the Healy. Unfortunately, the Polar Sea is set to be decommissioned and the Polar star is inactive and put in "caretaker status". Both are still in good shape, but are the victim of budget cuts....UGH!
    • Weed Omaniac  •  4 mths ago
      At least we're helping Americans for a change.
    • jamesm  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 mths ago
      "Residents Burn Stuff" Great piece of journalism there. Who edits these things?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Anchorage, Alaska  •  4 mths ago
      I'm a teenager, and I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I love it up here. I don't care what the rest of you guys say, Alaska is the best state in America, in my opinion. Even once I become an adult and move out of my parent's house, I still will not move out of state. I will be staying in Alaska forever.
    • sgent5111  •  4 mths ago
      GOD Speed guys - Be Careful.
    • RGJ  •  Culpeper, Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      I thought all that ice was melting??? Global Warming???
    • Robbie  •  Panama City, Florida  •  4 mths ago
      Boy, Alaska is getting hit hard again. Personally, I wish I lived there, I love snow, ice and using my own surviving techniques. Keep up the faith, help and supplies will be coming.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Los Angeles, California  •  4 mths ago
      really nice to see some international cooperation, thank you Russia
    • elizabeth b  •  Englewood, Colorado  •  4 mths ago
      sounds like it is getting colder up there earlier than normal so much for warmer winters
    • mike  •  4 mths ago
      Wow these comments show that the lower 48 has no Idea what Alaska really is.
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
    Loading...
    • The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral

      CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station opened the hatch and floated inside a Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon capsule on Saturday, the first privately owned spaceship to reach the orbital outpost, NASA said. Running ahead of schedule, station commander Oleg Kononenko …

    • Santa Fe, New Mexico (Reuters) - A blaze raged unchecked for a fourth day in the steep mountains of southwestern New Mexico on Saturday, one of several wildfires that have consumed more than 200 square miles of rugged land in a half-dozen U.S. states. Efforts to contain the blazes spreading in sparsely populated areas of …

    • U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hands a diploma to a cadet at West Point during the graduation ceremony for the class of 2012 in New York

      WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the cadets who graduated on Saturday from West Point were in elementary school when hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and enrolled in the U.S. military academy with wars raging in Iraq and Afghanistan. Vice President Joe Biden lauded the brave choices …

    • NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Many folks may fret themselves into a frenzy over the November U.S. elections and whether the world will come to an end on December 21, but for about 1,500 people gathered in New Orleans for the United Astrologers Conference, all will be revealed this week. "Some of the world's top astrologers are …

    • Hurricane Bud appoaches landfall in Mexico

      MANZANILLO, Mexico (Reuters) - The remnants of the first hurricane of the 2012 season, Bud, dumped heavy rain along Mexico's coast early on Saturday but caused little damage before it turned back into the Pacific. The storm, which on Friday had threatened to hit land with hurricane-force winds, lost strength as it neared …

     
    Add your ideas and help make it happen. Join the conversation.
    Should Bill and Donna take on more risk to boost their business?
    How Josh's comment on a Remake America video laid the groundwork for something bigger.