Over the last day period icebreaker escort services in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland were provided to 13 vessels, says Ice Operations Headquarters of Baltic Sea Ports Administration. Eight icebreakers were involved.
Since the beginning of the 2015-2016 winter navigation season icebreakers have assisted 435 vessels.
The St. Petersburg, Yermak, Kapitan Nikolayev, Vladivostok and Kapitan Zarubin icebreakers are ready to operate. The Kapitan Plakhin's main engines power limit is 73%. Icebreaker Murmansk is not taken into operation.
Fast 15-30 cm-thick ice is observed in the Neva Bay. From the Entrance Buoy to the C-1 solid 10-20cm-thick ice; between BSF and buoys No 23/24 broken 15-20cm-thick ice; Buoys No 23/24 to Picket 132 – fast ice, the channel is blocked due to the ice with thickness of 15-25 cm.
On the Port of Primorsk access channels the 10-20cm-thick brash ice is observed with fast 25 cm-thick ice in the port's basin and in the Bjerkezund Strait. The channel is open for transit.
The 10-20cm-thick landfast ice is observed in the Ust-Luga river offshore anchorage with ice-free water in the port’s water area.
The 10-20cm-thick solid ice is reported on the approaches to the port of Vysotsk, from the Nerva and toward Vikhrevoi, 15-25 cm-thick fast ice on the Vysotsk-Vyborg channel. Ice movement and ice compaction is observed due to southern and western winds.