Ice thickness in the Gulf of Finland is up to 30 cm, ice formation is in progress. According to the Ice Operations Headquarters of Baltic Sea Ports Administration, ice thickness in the Neva Bay - 15-30 cm, at the approaches to Primorsk - 10 cm, 10 points of thickness of 25 cm in the port’s water area; Ust-Luga – 10-15 cm of border ice at the river anchorage area and 3-5 cm thick ice at the sea port and at the berths; approaches to Vysotsk – 10-15 cm, Vysotsk-Vyborg canal - 15-25 cm, Saimaa channel – 20-30 cm, Björkösund strait – 15-25 cm thick ice with an intensive ice buildup.
Since the beginning of the 2015-2016 winter navigation season icebreakers have assisted 128 vessels including 15 vessels escorted during the last day.
The following icebreakers are currently involved in the operations: Semen Dezhnev, Mudyug and Ivan Kruzenshtern - seaway canal of Big Port St. Petersburg, Yury Lisyansky - port Primorsk, Kapitan Izmailov and Karu - approaches to Vyborg and Vysotsk ports.
Kapitan Sorokin, Ermak and Kapitan Nikolaev icebreakers are in reserve, ready for operation.
Other icebreakers (Saint-Petersburg, Vladivostok, Murmansk and Kapitan Zarubin) are undergoing technical recovery. Main propulsion power of the Kapitan Plakhin is limited to 73%.