44 icebreaker escort operations performed in eastern part of Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on March 5-6
44 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on March 5-6, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
Since the beginning of this winter navigation season icebreakers performed 1054 operations including 520 operations at Big Port St. Petersburg, 179 operations at the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk, 105 operations at the port of Primorsk and 250 operations at the port of Ust-Luga.
11 icebreakers are in operation.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, the convoy meeting point is at buoy No 4 of the Big Ship Channel (60 degrees 11.5 minutes north latitude; 27 degrees 46.1 minutes east longitude).
Floating ice of 20-25 cm thick is observed between the entrance buoy and the Dock-Gate Building C-1; floating ice of up to 25 cm thick is observed between the Dock-Gate Building C-1 and buoys No 23, No 24. Between buoys No 23, No 24 and closed part of St. Petersburg Seaway Channel: 20-30 cm thick ice. In the water area of Big Port St. Petersburg: brash ice of 15-30 cm thick and concentration of 9/10ths to 10/10ths.
Between the port of Vyborg and Vysotsk: consolidated ice of 20-35 cm thick, no navigation on the canal. Southwards of port Vysotsk to the Halley island: 25-30 cm thick ice. From Halley to Buoy No. 4 of Big Ship Channel: highly consolidated 15-25cm thick ice.
At port Primorsk: ice thickness of up to 35 cm, ice concentration of 10/10ths. Between buoys No 3-4 and the Grekov bank: newly formed ice of 10-15 cm thick. Between the Grekov bank and buoy No 6 of the Big Ship Channel: highly consolidated ice of up to 25 cm, with ice ridges.
Between the convoy meeting point and buoy No 3 of the Big Ship Channel: drifting ice of up to 15-25 cm thick. Between buoy No 3 and No 4 of the Big Ship Channel: newly formed ice of 5-15 cm thick with ice floes of 25-30 cm thick. Between buoy No 4 and No 9 of the Big Ship Channel: highly consolidated ice of 35-40 cm thick; ice compression and reefing is observed. Between buoy No 9 and No 11 of the Big Ship Channel: consolidated ice of 15-25 cm thick. Between buoy No 11 and entrance buoy of Big Port St. Petersburg - consolidated ice of up to 20 cm thick.
At the port of Ust-Luga: consolidated ice of 15-25 cm thick. In the mouth of the river: 30 cm thick land ice.
Ice navigation restrictions at the port of Ust-Luga and at the approaches to it come into effect from 6 March 2018 (when ice thickness reaches 15-30 cm). Navigation of ATB units and non-ice class ships will not be allowed. Ships of Ice1 class will be allowed to sail with the assistance of icebreakers, vessels of Ice2 class and higher classes will be allowed to sail with the assistance of icebreakers or independently.
