8 vessels escorted by icebreakers in eastern part of Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 14-15
8 vessels were escorted by icebreakers in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland during 24 hours on February 14-15, says Ice Operations Headquarters of the Baltic Sea Ports Administration.
From the beginning of winter navigation season, icebreakers escorted 800 vessels including 469 vessels in Big Port St. Petersburg, 74 vessels in Primorsk, 31 vessels in Ust-Luga, 196 vessels in Vyborg and Vysotsk, 30 vessels in the Gulf of Finland.
According to Ice Operations Headquarters, 7 icebreakers are in operation with four more ships in reserve and 3 icebreakers are undergoing the recovery of technical availability.
30-40 cm thick fast ice is observed in the Neva Bay. No movement on the Seaway Canal of Saint-Petersburg. 20-30 cm thick brash ice with high concentration is observed along the canal. 15-30 cm thick brash ice is observed at Big Kronshtadt Anchorage. 20-30 cm thick solid ice is observed between the Dock-Gate Building and buoys No 1-2. Between buoys No 1-2 and the entrance buoy – solid ice of 15-25 cm thick. Further westwards - ice free water.
Between the port of Vyborg and the turning buoy of Vysotsk port: fast ice of 30-35 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. Between buoy No 4 and buoy No 3 – ice floes of 10-15 cm. Further on - ice free water.
From the port of Primorsk to the Grekov bank – dense ice of 25-35 cm thick. Further on, up to the Big Ship Fairway – ice free water.
Between the port of Ust-Luga and Big Ship Fairway – ice free water.
