The icebreaker Kapitan Demidov has successfully escorted a caravan of eight ships to the port of Kavkaz, the Azov Ice Operations HQ said.
As of 8:00 (GMT) the icebreaker was at port’s anchorage. The Kapitan Demidov will organize a convoy of cargo ships bound from the Kerch Strait to the port of Temryuk.
The icebreaker Kapitan Moshkin supplied bunker fuel to M/V Sormovsky-49. Then the icebreaker Kapitan Chudinov will lead the M/V Sormovsky-49 and the M/V Amur-2532 to the port of Kavkaz. Two other icebreakers owned by Rosmorport, the Kapitan Moshkin and the Kapitan Krutov will proceed to the M/V Volga-Balt 239 to tow it to the port of Kavkaz.
As of 8:00 (Moscow Time), Feb. 26, there are reportedly 80 ships in the Azov Sea-based Russian ports, 13 of them have ice-class hulls. In the Sea of Azov - 14 ships are bound to the regional ports (10 – awaiting, 5 – en route, 2 - stricken ships).
Besides, 98 vessels are now in the Black Sea to be piloted through the Kerch Strait, 44 of them are ice-classed ships. Some ships are escorted by ice-class tugs to / from the port of Kavkaz.
Weather forecast for Feb. 27: variable wind, gusting up to 3-5 m / s, scattered snow and rain, mist, visibility - 2-4 km. Night temperature ranging from 0 Cº to + 5, day +2-7 Cº. Forecast for Feb. 28-29: northern strong breeze and high wind, gusting up to 38 mph, precipitation during the day, visibility – 1-2 km. Sea ice shearing, pile-ups, hummocking. Night temperature ranging from -2 Cº, to + 2 Cº, day – 0, + 5 Cº.