The icebreaker Kapitan Krutov escorting a convoy of 15 cargo ships is expected to reach the Kerch Strait not earlier than 22 February 2012, Azov Ice Operations HQ report said.
Meanwhile, the icebreakers Kapitan Demidov and Kapitan Chudinov are escorting a convoy of four ships (the Maya, the Gelius-1, the Azov Concord, the Azov Wind) to anchorage № 455 , where 5 vessels, the Gas Monarch, the Vega-II, the Cherokee, the SVL Glory, the SVL Prime, have been awaiting for icebreakers assistance to be escorted to the Kerch Strait.
As of 20:00 (GMT), February 20, 2012, there are 40 ships in the Sea of Azov, 19 of them en route, 19 – awaiting assistance and 2 are stricken ships. At least 100 vessels are expected to be escorted through the Kerch Strait, only 38 of them with ice-class. 65 cargo ships are set to depart from the ports in the Azov Sea, 12 of them comply with ice navigation requirements.