18 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on March 21-22, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 1,731 vessels including 1,050 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 148 vessels in Primorsk, 142 vessels in Ust-Luga, 284 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 107 vessels in the Gulf of Finland.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 6 icebreakers are involved.
20-30 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. 10-20 cm thick brash ice is observed on the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 10-15 cm thick brash ice with concentration of 6-8/10th is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. Open-pack ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building C-1 and buoys No 5-6 of the Big Kronshtadt Fairway. From buoys No 5-6 to buoy No 13 of the Big Kronshtadt Fairway - 15-30 cm thick solid ice. Further westwards - ice free water with separate ice floes.
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 10-20 cm. Between Vysotsk entrance buoy and the Rondo island – compact ice with thickness of up to 20 cm. Between the Rondo island and the Hally island – solid ice of 20-35 cm thick. Up to buoy No 4, and further on - ice free water.
In the water area of Primorsk port – ice free water. Two miles southwards from the Grekov 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. At the Anchorage No 10 (а) – ice free water with separate ice floes.