Neva-Delta St. Petersburg Shipping Agency reports - 29 November 2018

Official forecast for December 2018

it is expected that the ice appearance will begin in December 1-10th, but will be slow and with interruptions. Further during next period - December 10-20th, intensive ice formation is forecasted, Later within December 20-31st, some new interruptions of ice formations are forecasted again. Generally, December 2018 will develop to be of a mild type winter.

By December 10th, 2018

In the harbours of the  Port of St.Petersburg and further westward in the sea channel up to the longitude of Kronstadt Dam (029 40E),  there will be dark nilas ice.

Further  westward - mainly open water.

In the top of Vyborg Bay –  there will be close dark nilas ice. In the entrance - mainly open water.

In the Port of Ust-Luga and on approaches - open water.

By December 20th, 2018

In the harbours of the Port of St.Petersburg and further westward in the sea channel up to the longitude of Konstadt Dam (029 40E),  there will be dark close nilas ice 05-10 cm thick. Further westward up to the longitude of Shepelevski Lighthouse (029 07E)/ about 10 nm off p/stn --nilas and new ice. Further westward - mainly open water.

In the top of Vyborg Bay –  there will be close ice 05-15 cm thick. In the entrance - mainly open water.

In the Port of Ust-Luga and on approaches close to shore line --dark nilas and new ice.

By December 31st, 2018

In the harbours of the Port of St.Petersburg and further westward in the sea channel up to the longitude of Kronstadt Dam (029 40E) - there will be close drifting ice 10-15 cm thick,

Further westward up to the longitude of Shepelevski Lighthouse (029 07E)/ about 10 nm off p/stn -open ice 05-10 cm thick. Further westward - mainly open water.

In the top of Vyborg Bay –  there will be fast ice 10-15 cm thick. In the entrance – nilas and new ice.

In the Port of Ust-Luga and on approaches close to shore line - nilas and new ice.

The provisional forecast of the ice conditions on the Gulf of Finland for winter 2018-2019.

It is expected that the ice conditions during the forthcoming winter 2018-2019 will develop according to mild or moderate type winter. Ice growing progress and thickness will be close to mean annual ones.

The expected time of appearance of drifting ice:

up to the Moshchnyy island (027 49E / abt 50nm off from roads of St. Pete)
– week 02-03 / middle of January 2019

and to the longitude of Gogland island (027 00E // abt 80 nm off from roads of St.Pete)  
- week 05-06th / beginning of February 2019.

The maximum development of the ice conditions will be reached in the middle of March 2019, which is close to mean annual periods.

In that period the fast ice 40 – 60 cm thick is expected in the harbours of the Port of St.Petersburg and up to the Kronshtadt Dam / outer road of St.Pete. Further up to the Moshchnyy Island (027 49E / about 50nm off from roads of St.Pete) -- there will be very close, hummocked ice 30-50cm thick. Further to the longitude of Gogland Island (027 00E / about 80nm off from roads of St.Pete) -close drifting, partly ridged ice 20 - 45 cm thick is expected. 

Further up to the longitude of Tallinn (024 45E) – open, drifting ice thickness 15-30 cm is expected. 

Very preliminary  ice restrictions (for the min ice class) may be expected not earlier than end of January 2019 (week 05-06), In any case will be officially advised 14 days in advance  

Port call of restricted vessels will not be approved by Harbor Master, exceptions only for vessels with DWT more then 30,000 and age less then 15 years with special Ice Safety Certificate issued by Russian Register

HM office warning 

Every ship, navigating in ice, shall have available all the necessary supplies of fuel, fresh water and provisions for at least 20 days.

All ships proceeding in ice conditions to and out of the sea port when in ice convoy with ice-breaker shall ensure manual mode of  the main engine control whenever necessary.

Ship’s company manual must have ice clause (instructions from Owners) in case of its absence PSC/MoU may punish the master/vessel