Ports of Azov region (Ukraine) left without icebreakers
Ports of Ukrainean Azov are to be left without icebreakers of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. According to RZD-Partner, the only Ukraine’s icebreaker - the Captain Belousov vessel – is beyond repair, though it is responsible for ice navigation in the water area known as the most critical Ukraine’s terminal in terms of weather conditions. This information was revealed at a meeting of parliament members, ministry officials and marine economy experts held in Odessa. The Captain Belousov icebreaker was built in 1954. Its winter assistance amounts to 0.5 thou units. The vessel is registered at Mariupol port, which also has five large tug vessels with average age exceeding 25 years; the Portovik vessel is the newest one – it work built 15 years ago. The port has many times tried to draw the ministry’s attention to the critical state of the fleet, which services Azov’s ports (cover over 15% of total cargo turnover in marine sector of Ukraine). One of the port’s proposals is construction of a new icebreaker. Specialized design bureaus of Ukraine and Finland have already prepared vessel’s specifications under the port’sinstructions.
