16 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on January 25-26, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
Since the beginning of this winter navigation season icebreakers performed 75 operations including 53 operations at Big Port St. Petersburg, 15 operations at the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk and 7 operations at the port of Primorsk.
Floating ice of 10-15 cm thick and concentration of 9/10ths to 10/10ths is observed between the entrance buoy and the Dock-Gate Building C-1; floating ice of up to 05 cm thick and concentration of 7/10ths to 8/10ths is observed between the Dock-Gate Building C-1 and buoys No 27, No 28. Between buoys No 27, No 28 and closed part of St. Petersburg Seaway Channel ice concentration is 10/10ths, ice thickness is 15-20 cm, ice compacting is observed. In the water area of Big Port St. Petersburg: brash ice of 10-15 cm thick and concentration of 9/10ths to 10/10ths. Between the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk: consolidated ice of 10-15 cm thick. Southwards of port Vysotsk to the Rondo island: 5-15 cm tick ice. At port Primorsk: ice thickness of up to 20 cm, ice concentration of 10/10ths.
At the port of Primorsk and at the approaches to it, navigation of ATB units and non-ice class ships is banned from 26 January 2018. Ice1 class ships will be only allowed to sail in ice waters with the assistance of icebreakers, ships of Ice 2 class and higher ice classes will be allowed to sail independently upon obtaining icebreaker’s permit and recommendations, or assistance.