The FSUE "Rosmorport" icebreaking fleet started providing icebreaking assistance to vessels in ice conditions in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

Fifteen icebreakers will provide icebreaking assistance to vessels suring navigation of 2012-2013. They comprise 14 diesel-electrical icebreakers and 1 atomic icebreaker. At present 3 of 15 icebreakers started working. Other vessels of the icebreaking fleet are ready for operation.

At present the Kapitan M. Izmaylov icebreaker provides assistance in the Vyborg seaport, the Kapitan Zarubin icebreaker assists vessels leaving the Big Port of Saint-Petersburg. The Semen Dezhnev icebreaker is involved into icebreaking assistance in caravans and is located at the roads of the Lesnoy Mall.

The Kapitan Plakhin and Ivan Kruzenshtern icebreakers in the Big Port of Saint-Petersburg are ready to set out in 4 hours and round-the clock respectively.

On the whole from the start of winter navigation 2012-2013 icebreaking assistance in the Big Port of Saint-Petersburg and seaports of Vyborg and Vysotsk was provided for 70 vessels.

At present ice is steadily appearing in the northern and north-eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland. An up-to 15-cm thick ice cover has been formed in the area between the Big Port of Saint-Petersburg and the dam. An up to 20-cm landfast ice cover is observed near the seaportd of Vyborg and Vysotsk, and the Saymen Canal. Ice also starts to appear in the seaport of Primorsk. 

For information 

In the framework of preparation to winter navigation navigation equipment of the Moskva, Sankt-Peterburg, Kapitan Sorokin, and Kapitan Nikolayev icebreakers was modernised. A new version of the Navi-Sailor 4000 electronic and cartographic navigation information system, which helps to automate the navigation process, was installed on four leading icebreakers. The installed navigation systems are equipped with a module, which can depict ice maps of the Arctic and antarctic research institute.