41 icebreaker escort operations performed in eastern part of Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 26-27
41 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 26-27, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
Since the beginning of this winter navigation season icebreakers performed 713 operations including 382 operations at Big Port St. Petersburg, 130 operations at the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk, 71 operations at the port of Primorsk and 130 operations at the port of Ust-Luga.
10 icebreakers are in operation.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, the convoy meeting point is at buoy No 4 of the Big Ship Channel (60 degrees 11.5 minutes north latitude; 27 degrees 46.1 minutes east longitude).
Floating ice of up to 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 10-15 cm thick and concentration of 7/10ths to 9/10ths is observed between the Dock-Gate Building C-1 and buoys No 23, No 24. Between buoys No 23, No 24 and closed part of St. Petersburg Seaway Channel ice concentration is 9/10ths to 10/10ths, ice thickness is 15-20 cm. In the water area of Big Port St. Petersburg: brash ice of 15-20 cm thick and concentration of 9/10ths to 10/10ths.
Between the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk: consolidated ice of 15-25 cm thick, no navigation on the canal. Southwards of port Vysotsk to the Halley island: 15-25 cm thick ice. From Halley to Buoy No. 1 of Big Ship Channel: drifting 10-20cm thick ice.
At port Primorsk: ice thickness of up to 25 cm, ice concentration of 10/10ths. Between buoys No 3-4 and the Grekov bank: newly formed ice of up to 10 cm thick. Between the Grekov bank and buoy No 6 of the Big Ship Channel: drifting ice of up to 25 cm, with ice ridges.
Between buoy No 1 and No 3 of the Big Ship Channel: drifting ice of up to 15-25 cm thick. Between buoy No 3 and No 4 of the Big Ship Channel: newly formed ice of 5-15 cm thick. Between buoy No 4 and No 9 of the Big Ship Channel: drifting ice of up to 25 cm thick. Between buoy No 9 and No 11 of the Big Ship Channel: drifting ice of 15-20 cm thick. Between buoy No 11 and entrance buoy of Big Port St. Petersburg - dark nilas of 10-15 cm thick.
At the port of Ust-Luga: drifting brash ice of 15-25 cm thick. In the mouth of the river: 25 cm thick land ice.