Ice-class ships Spasatel Demidov, Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Serebryakov will assist vessels in the Kerch Strait this winter (photo)
Multi-functional rescue ship Spasatel Demidov and tugboats Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Serebryakov will assist vessels in the in the Kerch Strait in 2017-2018 winter navigation season, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Sergey Safonichev, head of Azov Sea Ports Administration, as saying at the regional meeting focused on icebreaker assistance at the Russian ports of the Azov Sea.
According to him, the Spasatel Demidov, Arc 5 class, will be on duty at the Kerch Strait. The tugboats will come to the water area as soon as the season of icebreaker assistance is announced at any ports of the region. Rostov-on-Don, Azov and Taganrog are usually the first to offer icebreaker support.
Sergey Safonichev reminded that southern ports, Kerchk Kavkaz and Temryuk should hold local meetings with agency and shipping companies operating in the region to solve the issue of signing contracts for icebreaker assistance in advance. Unlike the ports of Yeisk, Taganrog, Azov and Rostov-on-Don with ice dues, the southern ports are ice-free and additional signing of agreements is required to ensure icebreaker assistance if necessary.