Due to partial clearing of the water areas of Astrakhan and Olya seaports from ice, by the Astrakhan Seaport Master regulation dated 22.02.2013 № 2 and the Olya Seaport Master regulation dated 22.02.2013 № 3, from 00:00 February 23, 2012 vessels are permitted to go on their own under supervision of the icebreakers of the Astrakhan Branch, which will provide navigation in the corresponding parts of the Volga River and the Volga-Caspian sea canal

Simultaneously the masters of the Astrakhan and Olya seaports cancelled the decisions on introduction of ice regime limits in those seaports taken earlier.

On the whole from the start of the ice navigation 2012-2013 the FSUE "Rosmorport" Astrakhan Branch icebreakers - the Kapitan Chechkin, the Kapitan Bukayev, and the Kapitan Metsayk - leaded  40 caravans of vessels to and from the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya. In total more than 391 vessels were provided with icebreaking assistance.