North-Western Basin Branch News

“Moskva” icebreaker entered the Gulf of Finland for icebreaking pilotage

“Moskva” icebreaker which passed trial runs and was accepted by the state commission entered the Gulf of Finland for icebreaking pilotage on the 18th of January, 2010, at 22:30. Severe ice conditions of winter navigation 2009-2010 will be the first stern test for “Moskva” icebreaker, carrying out large-tonnage tankers pilotage to the seaport of Primorsk. The rough terms of “Moskva” icebreaker work for tankers pilotage to the seaport of Primorsk are to the middle of February, 2010.

Together with “Moskva” icebreaker pilotage in the water areas of the Gulf of Finland during winter navigation 2009-2010 is ensured by “Ivan Kruzenshtern”, “Captain Zarubin”, “Karu”, “Captain Sorokin” icebreakers. According to the information of pilotage service of the FSUE “Rosmorport” Saint-Petersburg branch during two decades of 2010 pilotage service executed 387 pilotage actions, including 184 for vessels entering the port and 203 for vessels exiting.

Reference: linear two-deck diesel-electric icebreaker “Moskva”, ship of 14 300 tons’ displacement, length – 114 meters, width – 27,5 meters, draught – 8,5 meters, navigation speed in ice-free waters – 16 knots. Crew – 26 persons. Icebreaker hull is resistant to a meter thick ice. Those specifications are optimal for vessel operations in the water areas of Gulf of Finland.