ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Russian fuel tanker has arrived at its final destination in Alaska and is sitting some 460 yards away from where fuel will be transferred to the iced-in city of Nome.
Jason Evans, board chairman of the Sitnasuak Native Corp., says the tanker got into position last night and ice has been allowed to refreeze around the ship to make it stable.
Personnel on Sunday morning were walking around the vessel and checking the ice to make sure it is safe for the transfer.
Evans says it’ll take about four hours to lay the hose for the transfer of 1.3 gallons of fuel to proceed, as long as there is enough daylight.
Without the delivery, the city of 3,500 residents on Alaska’s western coastline, which is experiencing its coldest weather since the 1970s, would run out of fuel by March or April.
