Tricky transfer awaits tanker in Nome

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A delicate ice dance is about to take place off frozen-in Nome Alaska where a Russian tanker is preparing to pump more than a million gallons of much-needed diesel and gasoline.
But in order to do that safely, the tanker must position itself near enough to the iced-in harbor to send that cargo through a mile-long hose.

A Coast Guard ice-breaker that helped guide the ship through Bering Sea ice can't get too close to shore because it's too shallow. So the trick is to place the tanker Renda in a spot where it can pump fuel and the ice-breaker can get it loose later.

A fall storm prevented Nome from getting a final fuel delivery by barge in November. There won't be another barge until spring and without the tanker delivery, Nome will run out of fuel