ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard’s only functioning icebreaker made a brief appearance off the coast of Nome on Thursday.
The icebreaker was not in Nome in response to the city’s dire fuel situation. Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said the ship was stationed about three miles off the coast to conduct personnel transfers and then left Thursday afternoon.
A storm last month prevented a barge delivering 1.6 million galls on gasoline and diesel fuel from reaching shore and now ice has set in. Officials are now considering flying in fuel so residents can make it through the winter.
Wadlow said the Coast Guard is aware of the situation, and is investigating solutions. The Healy will continue with scientific missions in the Nome area until it returns to Seattle around Christmas.
