14 vessels escorted by icebreakers in eastern part of Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on March 14-15
14 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on March 14-15, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 1,626 vessels including 987 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 132 vessels in Primorsk, 141 vessels in Ust-Luga, 259 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 107 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. 10-25 cm thick brash ice is observed on the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 10-20 cm thick brash ice with concentration of 7-9/10th is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 15-35 cm thick solid ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building C-1 and entrance buoy. Between the entrance buoy and buoy No 13 – 10-25 cm thick solid ice. Between buoy No 13 and buoy No 8 – open pack ice. Further westwards from buoy No 8 - ice free water with separate ice floes.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 25-30 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 25 cm. Between Vysotsk entrance buoy and the Rondo island – compact ice with thickness of up to 25 cm. Between the Rondo island and buoy No 4, and further on - ice free water.
In the water area of Primorsk port and to the Agamemnon bank - highly consolidated ice of 20-35 cm thick. Further on, to buoy No 7 – open pack ice. From buoy No 7 – ice free water.
In the water area of Ust-Luga port – ice free water with 35-cm thick fast ice along the coast. At the Anchorage No 10 (а) – ice free water with separate ice floes.