Icebreakers assist shipping in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, escorted 12 merchant vessels
During the past 24 hours the fleet of 9 icebreakers has escorted a convoy of 12 merchant ships in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Ports Authority's Ice Operations HQ said.
The remaining icebreakers of Rosmorport (the St. Petersburg, the Vladivostok, the Murmansk, the Kapitan Zarubin) are undergoing maintenance and repairs. The Kapitan Plakhin's main engines power limit is 73%.
As from midnight, Jan. 25, ships are formed into convoys at Buoy No 1 Big Ship of the Big Ship Fairway (59°58,5' NL, 27°03,1' EL).
Ice buildup continues in the entire eastern Gulf of Finland (to the Buoy No 1) with ice thickness of 10-25 cm.
Fast 15-30cm-thick ice is observed in the Neva Bay. From the Entrance Buoy to the C-1 solid 15-20cm-thick ice; between BSF and buoys
No 23/24 broken 15-20cm-thick ice; Buoys No 23/24 to Picket 132 – fast ice, the channel is blocked due to the ice with thickness of 20-30 cm.
On the Port of Primorsk access channels the 35cm-thick ice is observed with fast 35cm-thick ice in the port's basin. The channel is open for transit.
The 15-20cm-thick landfast ice is observed in the Ust-Luga river offshore anchorage with 15cm-thick ice fields in the sea port and at berths.
The 15-20cm-thick solid ice is reported on the approaches to the port of Vysotsk, from the Nerva and toward Vikhrevoi, 20-35cm-thick fast ice on the Vysotsk-Vyborg channel and heavy ice buildup continues.
Since the start of this year winter navigation season 292 cargo ships have been escorted by Rosmorport's icebreakers.
The following ice navigation restrictions are imposed as of February 10, 2016 (if ice thickness reaches 15-30 cm) in the basin and on access channels of Big Port St. Petersburg, the Port of Primorsk:
ATBs and vessels without ice class gains are not allowed to sail in the ice; ships with Ice1 class notation are allowed to enter under escort of icebreakers; ships with Ice 2 and higher class are allowed to sail on their own upon permit and following the recommendations or under icebreaker escort.
The following ice navigation restrictions are effective at the Port of Ust-Luga as of January 30, 2016 in the port basin and access channel (with solid ice thickness of 10-15 cm): ATBs not allowed to enter; vessels without ice class are allowed to sail under icebreakers assistance only; vessels with Ice 1 and above class notations are allowed to navigate in the ice on their own or with icebreaker assistance.
At the Port of Vysotsk (as of Feb. 10, after ice thickness reaches 15-30 cm in the basin and on the approach channel) the ice restrictions are as follows: navigation banned for ATBs and ships without ice class; Ice 1 class vessels are allowed to sail assisted by icebreakers; Ice 2 and above class ships allowed to sail on their own or under icebreaking support.
At the Port of Vyborg (as of Jan. 26, with 15-30cm-thick ice in the harbor and on access channels) the ice restrictions are as follows: not allowed to navigate: ATBs and vessels without ice class; Ice 1 ships are allowed to sail with icebreaking assistance only; Ice2 and above class are allowed to sail on their own or assisted by icebreakers.
