19 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on January 24-25, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 335 vessels including 257 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg and 78 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 7 icebreakers are in operation with one more ship in reserve. Technical availability of 5 icebreakers is being recovered.
25-35 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. 20-25 cm thick brash ice with high concentration is observed along the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 15-25 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 20-30 cm thick floating ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and buoy No 11 with new ice observed from the entrance buoy. 5-15 cm thick ice is observed up to the buoy No 5 with new ice seen further westwards up to the Hogland iceland. In the port waters – consolidated ice with thickness of up to 15-30 cm.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 20-35 cm thick. The canal is free with 15-25 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 25 cm. Between Vysotsk buoy and Anchorage No 18E - solid ice with thickness of 10-20 cm, ice rubble pileup is observed. Southwards, to the buoy No 4 – new ice.