A Russian tanker that delivered 1.3 million gallons of fuel to Nome and the Coast Guard cutter that broke ice for the tanker have reached open water.
KTUU-TV reported that Vitus Marine LLC said the Renda and the Healy broke free in the Bering Sea on Sunday afternoon after spending more than a week in pack ice.
The city of Nome was in need of fuel for the winter after a storm last November prevented the last barge of heating oil and gasoline from reaching the iced-in community.
The Renda is returning to its home base in Vladivostok, Russia. The Healy will continue to Dutch Harbor to drop off supplies and will then return to Seattle.




