Seaport of Kerch is ready to work in winter season, IAA PortNews correspondent cites Stanislav Belykh, Acting Harbour Master of Kerch seaport, as saying at the meeting on preparations for icebreaking assistance in Russian seaports of the Azov Sea held in Rostov-on-Don.
Stanislav Belykh emphasized that navigation in ice waters is only allowed for vessels with ice class of Ice-1 and higher. According to him, the port of Kerch is not on the list of freezing ports of the Russian Federation. In 2011-2012 icebreaking assistance season lasted for 29 days, in 2013-2014 – for 19 days, in 2016-2017 – for 8 days.
“In cold winters ice appears in the Kerch Strait in early January … and disappears in the second half of March or later… In coldest winters ice thickness reached 40-50 cm, in mild winters - 20-30 cm”, said Stanislav Belykh.