22 vessels escorted by icebreakers in eastern part of Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 5-6
22 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 5-6, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 676 vessels including 419 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 50 vessels in Primorsk, 31 vessels in Ust-Luga, 149 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 27 vessels in the Gulf of Finland.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 7 icebreakers are in operation with one more ship ready for operation and 5 icebreakers in reserve.
25-35 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. 20-30 cm thick brash ice with high concentration is observed along the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 15-30 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 20-30 cm thick floating ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and buoys No 3-4 with new ice observed from the entrance buoy. Between buoys No 3-4 and the entrance buoy – open pack ice with ice free water in some areas. From the entrance buoy to the buoy No 1 - open pack ice with ice free water in some areas.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 20-35 cm thick. The canal is free with 25-30 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 30 cm. Between Vysotsk buoy and the Hally island – compact ice with thickness of up to 35 cm. Between the Hally island and buoy No 4 – highly consolidated ice with thickness of 25-35 cm and ice ridges. Ice compression is observed.
From the port of Primorsk to buoys No 3-4 – dense ice of 20-30 cm thick, no movement on the canal. Further on, up to the Big Ship Fairway – open pack ice with ice free water in some areas.
Between the port of Ust-Luga and Anchorage No 11 – new ice of 5-10 cm thick. Further, to the Anchorage No 10 (а) - ice free water. To the north of Anchorage No 10 (а) up to buoy No 9 - open pack ice with ice free water in some areas.
