24 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 18-19, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 892 vessels including 514 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 92 vessels in Primorsk, 32 vessels in Ust-Luga, 223 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 31 vessels in the Gulf of Finland.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 9 icebreakers are involved.
30-40 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. No movement on the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 20-30 cm thick brash ice with high concentration is observed along the canal. 15-30 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 20-35 cm thick solid ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and the entrance buoy. Between the entrance buoy and buoy No 13 – solid ice of 15-25 cm thick. Further westwards - open pack ice with areas of ice free water.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 30-35 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 35 cm. Between the Hally island and buoy No 4 – highly consolidated ice with thickness of 20-25 cm and ice ridges. Further on - ice free water.
In the water area of Primorsk port - ice free water. Between the Uvarov bank and the Agamemnon bank – highly consolidate ice with ice ridges and thickness of 25-35 cm. Ice compression is observed. Between the Agamemnon bank and the Big Ship Fairway – open pack ice with large areas of ice free water.
Between the port of Ust-Luga and Big Ship Fairway – ice free water.