01/20/2012 - The fuel transfer was successfully completed at 5:48 AM Thursday morning. The lines were pigged (a mobile plug is passed through a line) to remove any remaining diesel fuel, then rolled and returned to the T/V Renda. Rolling the line took much longer than anticipated today. The CGC Healy started to break the ice around Renda to depart Nome within the last couple of hours.

USCG representatives remain in Nome to oversee the final vessel departure.

01/19/2012 - The fuel transfer was successfully completed at 5:30 AM this morning. Upon completion, the lines were pigged (a mobile plug that is passed through a line) to remove any remaining diesel, then rolled and returned to the T/V Renda.
The CGC Healy and Renda are expected to depart Nome tomorrow morning with the Healy breaking ice ahead of Renda. Due to the resulting damage to shorefast ice, a public service announcement will be broadcasted in Nome requesting that the public remain off the ice for at least 24 hours until the ice can be tested for safe travel.

ADEC representatives departed Nome today. USCG representatives remain in Nome to oversee the vessel departure.

01/18/2012 - The gasoline transfer restarted at approximately 4:30 PM yesterday and was completed at about 3:30 AM today. Upon completion, the line was pigged (a mobile plug that is passed through a line) to remove any remaining gasoline; however, the pig got stuck in the line. While the diesel transfer continued with one hose, the crews worked to free the pig in the second hose so the diesel transfer could be conducted using both hoses. The issue with the pig was resolved and the transfer of diesel using the second hose commenced around 1:00 PM.
All the gasoline cargo (300,000 gallons) and 670,000 gallons of diesel have been transferred from the T/V Renda to the Bonanza Fuel tank farm. Approximately 380,000 gallons of diesel remain to be transferred. Vitus Marine estimates that the transfer will be completed by early Thursday morning.

ADEC and USCG representatives remain in Nome overseeing the fuel transfer.

01/17/2012 - The fuel transfer operation continues today. The gasoline line was shutdown at 2:00 AM when a quarter-size blister was found on the hose. The damaged segment of the hose was replaced and the line is being air tested. The line will be back in operation within the next hour at an approximate rate of 20,000 gallons per hour. There was no interruption to the diesel fuel transfer in the second hose. Vitus Marine estimates that the fuel transfer will be completed by Thursday.
NOAA and the USCG continue to plan the outbound route for when the fuel transfer is complete. The plan includes use of an MH-65 helicopter for ice reconnaissance.
ADEC and USCG representatives are in Nome overseeing the fuel transfer.

01/16/2012 - The T/V Renda is iced in and preparation to transfer the fuel was finalized. Two 4-inch transfer hoses were dispatched from the Renda to the onshore marine header to offload both the diesel and the gasoline simultaneously. Each transfer hose is approximately 2,200 feet long. Currently, the gasoline is flowing from the Renda to Nome and the diesel will be flowing here shortly.

It will take approximately 40 plus hours to unload the fuel from the tanker. After all the fuel has been offloaded, the Renda will depart Nome with the help of the Healy.

01/15/2012 - The T/V Renda is in position to offload the fuel from the tanker. The fuel transfer will commence once safety and environmental issues are addressed and will continue around the clock.

01/14/2012 - The CGC Healy is currently assisting the T/V Renda in its approach to Nome. The crew on board the Renda will start mooring the tanker today. Once the Renda is moored, the tanker will remain in place for period of 6 to12 hours to allow ice to be formed around it for personnel access.
When safely moored and iced in, a 4-inch transfer hose will be dispatched to the onshore marine header for fuel transfer.
Once the hose is attached and verified to be ready, the fuel will be off-loaded from the Renda to the Bonanza Fuel tank farm. It will take approximately 36 to several days to unload the fuel from the tanker. After all the fuel has been offloaded, the Renda will depart Nome with the help of the Healy.
ADEC and USCG representatives are in Nome to oversee the fuel transfer.

01/13/2012 - At this time, the Renda is staying offshore while the Healy is making runs to test the ice and determine the best place for the Renda to moor for the fuel transfer.
The tanker will be secure to shorefast ice, and a 4-inch hose will be run from the tanker to the onshore marine header for fuel transfer.

Once the hose is attached and verified to be ready, the fuel will be off-loaded from the Renda to the Bonanza Fuel tank farm. It will take approximately 36 to 42 hours to unload the fuel from the tanker. After all the fuel has been offloaded, the Renda will depart Nome with the help of the Healy.
ADEC and USCG representatives are in Nome to oversee the fuel transfer.

01/12/2012 - The vessels worked until approximately 12:30 am this morning and made good progress.  They are currently about 70 miles from Nome and hopeful for continued good progress today. (updated 10:15am)

01/11/2012 - The T/V Renda and CGC Healy have not travelled any significant distance since noon yesterday. The vessels remain approximately 100 nautical miles from Nome.  An experienced U.S. ice navigator hired by Vitus Marine as a technical advisor arrived safely on board the Healy around 4:00 PM today.  He may transfer to Renda after assessing the challenges from on board the Healy.

01/10/2012 - The vessels were at Latitude: 63 degrees 09 minutes N Longitude, 167 degrees 12 minutes W  and 94 nautical miles to Nome as of noon today.  They experienced some backward drift overnight. 

If the vessels can travel approximately 20 more miles, a lead may allow them to make much better time this evening or tomorrow. 

01/09/2012 -- As of 12:00 PM on January 9, 2012, the T/V Renda  and CGC Healy are at 62 degrees 29 minutes north 167 degrees 18 minutes west (62.5/-167.3), approximately 130 nautical miles from Nome.

01/08/2012 -- As of 12:00 PM on January 8, 2012, the T/V Renda  and CGC Healy are at 61 degrees 57.5 minutes north, 167 degrees 57.4 minutes west (61.9583/-167.956), approximately 165 nautical miles from Nome.

01/07/2012 -- As of 12:00 PM on January 7, 2012, the T/V Renda and CGC Healy are at 61 degrees 26.4 minutes north, 167 degrees 56.1 minutes west (61.44/-167.935), approximately 200 nautical miles from Nome. They are about 60 to 70 nautical miles northwest of Nunivak Island. 

01/06/2012 -- As of 12:00 PM on January 6, 2012, the T/V Renda is at 60 degrees 20.9 minutes north, 167 degrees 58.6 minutes west, approximately 250 nautical miles from Nome. The T/V Renda, with assistance from the CGC Healy, will pass through approximately 350 miles of sea ice and is estimated to arrive at Nome on January 9, 2012.

The draft of the CGC Healy is too deep for her to get closer than roughly one mile from the Nome harbor. The T/V Renda will proceed within its capabilities toward the harbor beyond CGC Healy's limit. The tanker will be secured to shorefast ice, and a 4-inch hose will be run from the tanker to the onshore marine header for fuel transfer.

Once the hose is attached and verified to be ready, the fuel will be off-loaded from the T/V Renda to the Bonanza Fuel tank farm. It is estimated that it will take approximately 36-42 hours to unload the fuel from the ship. After all the fuel has been offloaded, the T/V Renda will depart Nome with the help of the CGC Healy.

ADEC personnel are scheduled to arrive in Nome on Sunday, January 8, and will conduct equipment inspections and verify all spill response assets are on standby. ADEC and USCG representatives will oversee the fuel transfer in Nome.