BERING SEA ? The Russian-flagged tanker Renda, carrying more than 1.3 million gallons of fuel, sits in the ice while the Coast Guard Cutter Healy crew breaks the ice around the tanker approximately 19 miles northwest of Nunivak Island Jan. 6, 2012. The cutter Healy crew is escorting the Renda crew to Nome, Alaska, where the tanker crew will offload the needed fuel to the city. U.S. Coast Guard photo by cutter Healy.

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The tanker arrived, carrying 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products

Workers are in the process of laying the hose down, the mayor says

The voyage is a first

CNN  — 

Officials hope to see the transfer of much-needed fuel from a Russian tanker to the snowed-in Alaskan town of Nome as early as Monday.

“It’s a good feeling. We’re halfway there,” Nome Mayor Denise Michels said late Sunday night.

“Our main concern was, of course, to have the delivery and the transfer done safely. So, now, they’re in the process of laying the hose down.”

Michels is hopeful that fuel will begin going through the line Monday.

“We’re pretty excited,” she said.

The fuel tanker Renda arrived Saturday night, carrying 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products.

U.S Coast Guard ice breaker Cutter Healy accompanied the tanker, breaking through almost 300 miles of ice for the tanker on a journey that took them through southern Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

A company in Nome contracted the Renda to deliver the fuel after ice formed over the Bering Sea following a ferocious November storm that prevented the last delivery of the season via barge.

The town has enough fuel to last until about March, but the delivery was attempted now because it would have been more difficult then, said Coast Guard Capt. Craig Lloyd, who is coordinating the mission.

Officials considered flying in fuel, but it would have taken more than 300 flights, each carrying 4,000 to 5,000 gallons, to meet the town’s needs, said Jason Evans, chairman of Sitnasuak Native Corp.

The voyage is the first-ever attempt to supply fuel to an Arctic Alaska settlement through sea ice.