Russia’s Ministry of Transport has published a summary of the situation in the Azov Sea, as of 13:00 (GMT). Presently, there are 65 vessels in the Russian ports of the Azov Sea, only 19 of them have ice-class. In the next two days, the ships will be organized into a convoy and escorted to the Black Sea by icebreakers Kapitan Moshkin and the Kapitan Krutov. Currently, the Kapitan Moshkin is busy escorting ships to the port of Taganrog. The Kapitan Krutov is leading ships to the ports of Azov and Rostov-on-Don. Besides, there are 20 cargo ships lying on seaway waiting for icebreaker assistance. 11 vessels, “Krasny Aksai", "Volga-Balt-239", "Lana", "Volga-Balt-226", "Mystery-K", "Sormovsky-49", "Taurus", "Pur Navolok" "Zenith" are located in the western part of the Azov Sea. Another nine ships: "Maya", "Azov Concord", "Gelius-1", "Kizhi", "Gas Monarch", "Azov Wind", "Eagle-1 ',' Vega-2" and "Orel-1" will be escorted in the next few days by the Kapitan Chudinov" and the Kapitan Demidov through the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea. Two more cargo ships, the Kapitan Vikulov and M/V Alaka-1 were abandoned by the crew members and located in the western part of the Azov Sea.
Shipowners are in talks to organize rescue operation. The ice condition hampers towing operation. There are 68 ships (29 ice-classed) In the southern part of the Kerch Strait to be escorted to the ports in the Sea of Azov. The ships have sufficient food and fuel stocks on board. Rosmorrechflot head told reporters on the activities of the Ice Operations HQ and organization of icebreaking operations in the Azov Sea. Today at 4:00pm (Moscow Time) Mr. Davydenko plans to host a meeting of IOHQ with ship owners, ship agents, and representatives of the stevedoring companies. To conduct ice reconnaissance and assess the situation Russian Transport Ministry and Rosmorrechflot have planned two fly-overs of the area.
Current temperature ranges from 0, to -5 Cº, the wind of variable direction, 6 - 11 m / s, the ice - thickness of 40 cm, compactness of up to 10 points.
The Rosmorport owned icebreakers were deployed and operate in the area in accordance with the instructions of the Ice Operations Headquarters (IOHQ) led by Harbour Master of the Port of Taganrog. Currently, the IOHQ is busy freeing ice-trapped vessels and escort them to open water in the Kerch Strait. The Azov Sea is "closed" for arrivals, while the Russian ports of the Azov Sea are accessible for incoming vessels. The icebreakers work in pairs clearing a passage for the vessel to then start organizing ship convoys to escort them both to the north-east towards the port of Taganrog, Azov, Rostov-on-Don, Eisk, and from the ports to the Kerch Strait, as well as to assist the ships at the port of Temryuk.
FSUE Rosmorport has now a fleet of four diesel-electric icebreakers in the area operated by its regional Azov and Black Sea branches. In addition, the Port of Taganrog has the icebreaking tug Kama, the same class vessel Kapitan Kharchikov operates at the port of Azov, Port of Rostov-on-Don has the icebreaking tug Phanagoria.