Unalaska, AK – High winds scuttled another attempt to alleviate the fuel shortage in Nikolski and damaged a piece of heavy equipment there on Friday.

The Magone Marine Service vessel Redeemer was supposed to deliver 26,000 gallons of heating oil and diesel fuel to the village on Friday, but owner Dan Magone said the Redeemer was able to offload only about a tenth of its cargo before 75 mph winds drove the ship back from the beach. The harbor at Nikolski isn't a proper harbor with mooring facilities, so at the time the Redeemer was tied up to the village's loader, which was pulled into the sea when the gust hit the boat.

Magone said the Redeemer crew tried to wait out the storm, but returned to Dutch Harbor after the winds got even worse. He said the ship would try to reach the village again once they had another weather window.