Finnish Ice Service, The Finnish Meteorological Institute
| Publishing Date |
07-FEB-12 |
| Id |
34 |
The ice has drifted north-eastwards on all sea areas.
In the northern Bay of Bothnia there is 20–40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out 30–50 cm thick ridged compact ice, approximately to the line Malören – Marjaniemi. Farther out 10–30 cm thick in places rafted level ice and very close ice. In the southern part of Bay of Bothnia there is 10–30 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice edge a 5–10 nautical miles wide lead has opened. Farther out 5–15 cm thick level ice.
In the Quark there is 5–20 cm thick close and very close ice north off Gunvorsgrund. In Vaasa archipelago there is 10–30 cm thick fast ice. Farther out to Vaasa lighthouse 10–20 cm thick locally rafted level ice. There is brash ice barrier at the ice edge. Farther out new ice to Norrskär.
In the Sea of Bothnia there is 5–20 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out an approximately 3 – 7 nautical miles wide zone of thin compact ice.
In the Archipelago Sea there is 10–20 thick fast ice and new ice.
In the Gulf of Finland there is 10–30 thick fast ice in the inner archipelago. Further out there is approximately 3–10 nautical miles wide zone of 5–15 cm thick locally ridged very close ice. In the Bay of Vyborg and the Bay of St. Petersburg there is 15–30 cm thick fast ice. Farther out thin very close ice to Sommers.
Icebreakers: Otso, Frej and Kontio assists in the Bay of Bothnia. Zeus assists in the Sea of Bothnia. Voima assists in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Traffic restrictions: Minimum ice class and deadweight required of assisted vessels:
Tornio, Kemi, Oulu and Raahe, IA of more than 2000 tons.
Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Vaasa, IA and IB of more than 2000 tons.
Kaskinen, I and II of more than 2000 tons.
Pori, Rauma, Uusikaupunki, Loviisa, Kotka and Hamina, I and II of more than 2000 tons.
Alterations to the restrictions: Minimum ice class and deadweight required of assisted vessels from
8th February:
Naantali, Turku, Hanko, Koverhar, Inkoo, Kantvik, Helsinki and Porvoo, I and II of more than 2000 tons.
Vessels bound for Gulf of Bothnia ports in which traffic restrictions apply shall, when passing Svenska Björn, report their nationality, name, port of destination, ETA and speed to ICE INFO on VHF channel 84. This report can also be given directly by phone + 46 31 699 100.
Vessels bound for Finnish or Swedish ports with traffic restrictions in the Quark or the Bay of Bothnia shall, 20 nautical miles before Nordvalen Lighthouse, report in accordance with the instructions for winter navigation to Bothnia VTS on VHF channel 67.
