Winter icebreaking season kicks off at the ports of Rostov-on-Don, Azov and Taganrog

Winter icebreaking season will be officially launched to/from the seaports of Rostov-on-Don, Azov and Taganrog as of midnight, December 31 to ensure safety of navigation. The winter season to keep the ports approach channels open were announced by harbourmasters, a regional PortNews correspondent reported citing Alexandr Danilenko, Acting First Deputy Captain, Maritime Traffic at Taganrog port of Taganrog branch of Azov Sea Basin Authority.

He said the winter marine traffic control scheme includes the formation of ship convoys in the Kerch Strait (TPA-1). "TPA-1 is any anchorage in the Kerch Strait, as specified by the VTS".

Danilenko reminded the scheme procedure: a stevedore check the availability of the free berth or the inner anchorage in the ports of Rostov-on-Don and Azov, and agrees with the agent the berth. Then they apply to the Harbourmaster's service of the port, and the port submit a request for icebreaking service to the situation management center. Lastly, the request is  processed at the Basin commission and orders to form a ship convoy.