Kapitan Chechkin, Kapitan Bukaev and Kapitan Metsayk icebreakers of the Astrakhan Branch, despite of the heavy ice conditions and the state of emergency declared on the territory of the Astrakhan Region on January 27, 2014 due to the weather deterioration (atmospheric temperature to the level of -34°C, wind up to 12 m/s, ice of 10 points) to the full extent provide ice escort along the Volga-Caspian Seaway Canal as normal without any delay.
 
Additionally, the branch icebreakers in order to ensure the ferries operation necessary for normal functioning of the Astrakhan Region island settlements located in the Volga Delta, in due order perform works on clearing lanes.
 
For information:
During the ice navigation period from December 2013 till the present the Astrakhan Branch icebreakers have performed accident-free ice escort along the Volga-Caspian Seaway Canal of 215 transport vessel.