Rosmorport’s icebreakers lead 46 cargo ships in the Gulf of Finland
There were 10 icebreakers of Rosmorport and a nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Russia’ (chartered out to Rosmorport by Atomflot) doing its ice breaking job in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. For the last 24 hours the icebreaking fleet was cutting a channel for 46 cargo ships in the Gulf of Finland, Rosmorport told PortNews.
Since the winter navigation launch, the icebreakers have escorted 2,029 merchant ships in the area.
The icebreaking fleet operating now in the Gulf comprises the Captain Zarubin, the Ivan Krusenstern, the Yuri Lisyansky, the Mudyug, the Moscow, the Ermak, the Captain Sorokin, the Karu, the Thor, the St. Petersburg and the Russia.
Previously, the Big Port St. Petersburg Harbourmaster introduced on December 4, 2012 some restrictions on ice-class of vessels sailing to / from the port. Besides, as of December 24, the Port Authority banned from entering the harbour articulated tug / barge units (ATBs). The ships without reinforced hulls are permitted only under icebreaker escort. The Ice class vessels are permitted to sail independently using the regional icebreaking operations center’s guides or may request the icebreaker assistance.
The harbourmaster issued another regulation, effective February 4, 2013, on mandatory escorts of vessels with Ice I hulls by icebreakers. The Ice 2 (and above) ships are allowed to sail independently guided by recommendations or led by an icebreaker.
Earlier, Rosmorport said it had deployed its own 14 diesel-powered icebreakers and one nuclear-powered vessel of Atomflot in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland to ensure safe and smooth shipping in the 2012-2013 winter season.
