5 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on December 20-21, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 64 vessels including 46 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg and 18 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 3 icebreakers are in operation with two more ships in reserve. Technical availability of 8 icebreakers is being recovered.
Floating ice with concentration of 9-10/10th is observed in the Neva Bay, between the 16th anchorage and the Golden Gate (10-15 cm thick). The canal is free. Between the 16th anchorage and Dock-Gate Building C-1: 10-cm thick ice with concentration of 6-8/10th . Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: light ice of 5-10 cm thick. The canal is free. Between the turning buoy of Vysotsk port and Vysotsk Gate (including water area of Vysotsk port) – new ice with ice free water from the entrance buoy.