25 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 10-11, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 759 vessels including 450 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 67 vessels in Primorsk, 31 vessels in Ust-Luga, 181 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 30 vessels in the Gulf of Finland.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 6 icebreakers are in operation with three more ships in reserve and four icebreakers are undergoing the recovery of technical availability..
25-35 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. 20-30 cm thick brash ice with high concentration is observed along the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 15-30 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 20-30 cm thick solid ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and buoys No 1-2. Between buoys No 1-2 and the entrance buoy – solid ice of 15-25 cm thick. Further westwards - ice free water.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 20-35 cm thick. The canal is free with 25-30 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 30 cm. Between Vysotsk buoy and the Hally island – compact ice with thickness of up to 30 cm. Between the Hally island and the Nerva island – highly consolidated ice with thickness of 25-35 cm and ice ridges. Ice compression is observed. From the Nerva island – ice free water.
From the port of Primorsk to the Grekov bank – dense ice of 25-35 cm thick, no movement on the canal. Further on, up to the Big Ship Fairway – open pack ice with ice free water in some areas.
Between the port of Ust-Luga and Big Ship Fairway – ice free water.