10 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on January 16-17, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 232 vessels including 166 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg and 66 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 3 icebreakers are in operation with six more ships in reserve. Technical availability of 4 icebreakers is being recovered.
20-30 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay along the northern and southern coasts. 15-25 cm thick ice with high concentration is observed along the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 10-15 cm thick brash ice is observed on the canal. 15 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 10-15 cm thick floating ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and buoys No 3-4 with new ice observed from the entrance buoy. Further, to the meridian of the Shepelevsky lighthouse – dark nilas and new ice. In the port waters – floating brash ice with concentration of 7-9/10th and thickness of up to 15 cm. Floating ice floes with thickness of 20-25 are observed between the entrance buoy and buoy No 14.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 20-30 cm thick. The canal is free with 10-20 cm thick brash ice. Between the turning buoy of Vysotsk port and Vysotsk Gate (including water area of Vysotsk port) – solid ice with thickness of up to 15 cm. From the entrance buoy to the Hally island – new ice.