The Coast Guard Cutter Healy escorts the Russian-flagged tanker Renda 250 miles south of Nome on Jan. 6. The vessels are transiting through ice up to five-feet thick. The 370-foot Renda will have to go through more than 300 miles of sea ice to get to Nome, a city of about 3,500 people on the western Alaska coastline that did not get its last pre-winter fuel delivery because of a massive storm. If the delivery of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline is not made, the city likely will run short of fuel supplies before another barge delivery can be made in spring.
Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis/US Coast Guard/AP
