On 23 November a meeting on preparatory measures for icebreaker assistance services provision in Astrakhan and Olya seapors basins in 2015 – 2016 was held in the Astrakhan Branch.

The meeting was attended by administration of FSBI “Administration of the Caspian seaport”, management of the Astrakhan Branch, representatives from Ministry of transport of the Astrakhan Region, from customs, shipping and stevedore companies.

The meeting reviewed issues of icebreaker assistance performance in Astrakhan and Olya seaports, among them readiness of icebreakers and pilots of the Branch for the season, details of operation of checkpoints in the seaports and ferry crossings at the Volgo-Caspian marine canal during winter navigation of 2015 – 2016.

On the threshold of winter navigation the Astrakhan Branch is completing pre-starting technical and organizational procedures in the icebreaking fleet. The three icebreakers of the branch, Kapitan Chechkin, Kapitan Bukaev and Kapitan Metsayk, each with capacity of 6.5 MW, will be ready to provide icebreaker assistance for vessels in Astrakhan and Olya seaports.