Finnish Ice Service, The Finnish Meteorological Institute
| Publishing Date |
22-FEB-12 |
| Id |
49 |
The ice is drifting slowly towards east.
In the northern Bay of Bothnia there is 35–60 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out 40–60 cm thick ridged consolidated drift ice, approximately to the line Malören – Merikallat. There is in places pressure in the ice field. Farther out 20–40 cm thick rafted very close ice. The ice edge runs approximately along the line Farstugrunden – Nahkiainen. There is a brash ice barrier at the ice edge. In the southern part of Bay of Bothnia there is 20–40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice edge there is an approximately 2–10 nautical miles wide zone of thin close ice.
In the Quark there are areas of 5–20 cm thick very close ice north of Odelgrund. Elsewhere new ice or open ice. In Vaasa archipelago there is 15–40 cm thick fast ice. From Norra Gloppsten to Norrskär there is thin open ice and new ice.
In the Sea of Bothnia there is 15–40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out an approximately 1–7 nautical miles wide zone of 5–20 cm thick compact ice and new ice.
In the Archipelago Sea there is 10–35 thick fast ice and thin level ice.
In the Gulf of Finland there is 15–50 thick fast ice in the archipelago. A narrow lead has oppned off the fast ice. Farther out there is 10–30 cm thick close and very close ice approximately to 7 nautical miles south of Jussarö and Helsinki lighthouse and to 12 nautical miles south of Kalbådagrund. In the eastern Gulf of Finland there is 20–50 cm thick fast ice and farther out 15–35 cm thick very close ice to Gogland.
Icebreakers: Otso, Frej and Kontio assists in the Bay of Bothnia. Zeus assists in the Sea of Bothnia. Urho and Voima assist in the Gulf of Finland.
Traffic restrictions: Minimum ice class and deadweight required of assisted vessels:
Tornio, Kemi, Oulu and Raahe, IA of more than 4000 tons.
Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Vaasa, IA of more than 2000 tons.
Kaskinen, IA and IB, more than 2000 tons and IC more than 3000 tons.
Pori, Rauma, Uusikaupunki, Naantali, Turku, Hanko, Koverhar, I and II of more than 2000 tons.
Inkoo, Kantvik, Helsinki, Porvoo, IA and IB of more than 2000 tons and IC of more than 3000 tons.
Loviisa, Kotka and Hamina, IA and IB 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.
