Russian tanker reaches ice-bound Alaskan port

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/russia-icebreaker-alaska-idUSL6E8CD1DZ20120113 ^

[kronos77]

* Vessel brings emergency fuel supplies to U.S. town

* Tanker ploughs through two-feet-thick ice on 10-day voyage

By Alissa de Carbonnel

MOSCOW, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A Russian tanker escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard reached the frozen Alaskan port of Nome with emergency fuel supplies on Friday after a 10-day voyage through ice-choked seas, the Russian company that owns the vessel said.

The mission to Nome is the first mid-winter marine delivery to western Alaska and comes as oil and gas development and climate change increase commercial traffic along trade routes in the Arctic.

...

The Renda herself has cut across Russia's Arctic coastline several times this year from Europe and Asia. As Arctic ice receded to its second-lowest point on record last summer, Aliyev said RIMSCO took a tanker through the Northern Sea Route as late as November.

"This is routine work for us," he said of the Renda's trip. Only a cautious approach taken by the U.S. Coast Guard and lack of icebreaker experience, slowed the Renda's journey, he said.

"There are many places were we could have easily moved through (the ice) but we are following coast guards' orders. If they say we have to stand still at night, we wait," Aliyev said. (Editing by Louise Ireland)

[GonzoGOP]

* Tanker plows through two-feet-thick ice on 10-day voyage

But I thought all the arctic ice had melted. Al Gore said it so it must be true. /sarc

[liberty or death]

“comes as oil and gas development and climate change increase commercial traffic”

Typical left wing socialist lie. Was “Coming Ice Age”. Was “Ozone Hole”. Was “Global Warming”. Now is “Climate Change” so as to cover the entire lie.

[Venturer]

It kind of ticks me off that we do not have a ship capable of such a feat. Why not?

[lurk]

Did the story really report on Nome being frozen in amid thick ice, and immediately follow up with a statement on climate change?

This writer is begging for a mocking, a severe mocking.

[GonzoGOP]

Even with the U.S. Coast Guard's only functioning icebreaker, the Healy,

That is a condemnation of the state of America. Alaska alone has 6,640 miles of coastline. Throw in the fishing ports in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts that can all get ice chokes in a nor'easter and you have a lot of ice breaking jobs for the Coast Guard. And we have one stinking icebreaker! The Canadians have two heavy arctic Icebreakers, four Arctic Icebreakers, and seven smaller ice breakers. And they are building more including some monster polar class boats. We have one in operation. Tell Michelle Obama to take one less trip to Europe and bring the Polar Spare (USCGC Polar Star) out of mothballs.

[Mannaggia l'America]

But I thought all the arctic ice had melted. Al Gore said it so it must be true. /sarc

You silly conservative, you just don't understand Algore science...

The ice did melt because of Global Warming. That was old growth ice from pre-Global Warming.

This ice is new ice created by Global Warming.

[GonzoGOP]

As a cool boatnerd picture I found this shot of the Healy and Renda

[Errant]

Well, we just happen to be building a new icebreaker for you Yankees down here in Louisiana!

[BfloGuy]

Did the story really report on Nome being frozen in amid thick ice, and immediately follow up with a statement on climate change?

He sure did -- talked about two foot thick ice and launched right into a sermon on global warming.

[Errant]

http://www.adn.com/2011/12/05/2204274/shell-about-to-unveil-200-million.html

[Anoreth]

We called it Building 10 when I was on Mellon. They gutted Polar Star to make the other two operational.