Ice threatens shipment of fuel to Alaska town

[Judi Lynn]

Ice threatens shipment of fuel to Alaska town
'The worst case scenario is the ice becomes too much,' says Coast Guard official
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 1 hour 51 minutes ago 2012-01-09T22:55:45

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The pace of a seagoing fuel convoy slowed on Monday as thick ice threatened the hull of the tanker carrying an emergency shipment of diesel and gasoline for the town of Nome.

"The worst case scenario is the ice becomes too much for the progress, and we aren't going to make it to Nome," said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley.

The 370-foot tanker Renda, a Russian-flagged tanker hauling 1.3 million gallons of fuel, had been scheduled to arrive by Tuesday, accompanied by the U.S. Healy icebrearker. But the Coast Guard on Monday said the convoy's speed had been halved to 2 mph and that it had no estimated time of arrival with the ships still some 165 miles out.

The town of about 3,500 people on the western Alaska coastline did not get its last pre-winter fuel delivery because of a massive storm. If the delivery is not made, the city likely will run short of fuel supplies before another barge delivery can be made in spring.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45933354/ns/us_news-life/

[morningglory]

1. I feel for those people. I have been very worried about them, and the news is all about Kate

Middleton's birthday. Wondering if they have any old people who remember how to build igloos.

[Angry Dragon]

2. North to Alaska

Song: North to Alaska - Johnny Horton
Album: Classic Country: 1950-1964



Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.

Big Sam left Seattle in the year of '92,
With George Pratt, his partner, and brother, Billy, too.
They crossed the Yukon River and found the bonanza gold.
Below that old white mountain just a little south-east of Nome.

Sam crossed the majestic mountains to the valleys far below.
He talked to his team of huskies as he mushed on through the snow.
With the northern lights a-running wild in the land of the midnight sun,
Yes, Sam McCord was a mighty man in the year of nineteen-one.

Where the river is winding,
Big nuggets they're finding.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.

Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.

George turned to Sam with his gold in his hand,
Said: "Sam you're a-lookin'at a lonely, lonely man.
"I'd trade all the gold that's buried in this land,
"For one small band of gold to place on sweet little Ginnie's hand.

"'Cos a man needs a woman to love him all the time.
"Remember, Sam, a true love is so hard to find.
"I'd build for my Ginnie, a honeymoon home.
"Below that old white mountain just a little south-east of Nome."

Where the river is winding,
Big nuggets they're finding.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.
North to Alaska,
They're goin' North, the rush is on.

Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
Way up north, (North To Alaska.)
Way up north, (North To Alaska.)

[cliffordu]

5. Johnny Horton RULES!!!!!

"Back in 1814 we took a little trip......"

Where else can you find a lyric like this:

"....And when we set the powder off, the gator lost his mind...."

[minavasht]

3. The polar bears must love it

Finally they don't have to swim without any ice in sight.

[GliderGuider]

4. If we insist on building cities in inhospitable places, this will happen.

Nome, Phoenix, Las Vegas - whether it's fuel or water, Mother Nature usually has the last word.

[Nihil]

6. +1

Sooner or later it will sink in ... hopefully sooner ...