The Russian Icebreaker, Renda, has crossed the stormy, wind-tossed waters of the Aleutians and has begun to cross the sea ice on its historic voyage to Nome.
Vitus Marine LLC, the company that contracted the Renda to deliver more than a million gallons of fuel to Nome, says the Renda was 25 nautical miles southwest of Nunivak Island at about 9:30 this morning -- and is making way through the southernmost ice at 8 knots.
The Renda was hired after huge storms in the Bering Sea kept a barge company from delivering Nome’s winter supply of fuel.
From dealing with several foreign governments and a number of regulatory hurdles, the Renda’s journey hasn’t been an easy one.
The ship just cleared one last major hurdle. Vitus Marine says its spill prevention plan has received approval from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
